Moving to a new school in a new district is always a gamble and comes with much uncertainty. This year I took a job in Fayette County at Leestown Middle School. Teaching in Lexington has been a goal of mine for quite some time on both a personal and professional level.
When you walk into a new program, it is important to understand and honor the traditions of the program. One of the first big events that we had was the Dunbar Area Concert. I had no idea what to expect from the concert and as a type A person, this was stressful for me. The area concert invites ensembles from elementary and middle schools in the Dunbar feeder pattern to participate in a mass band concert.
The Leestown band took the 7th and 8th grade bands to this concert and performed alongside ensembles from 3 elementaries, Beaumont Middle School and Dunbar high school. It was an absolutely incredible experience for our students! The students performed with grace and were able to hear the incredible ensembles from these other schools including the state-finalist Dunbar Marching Band. The gym was absolutely packed with a fantastic audience that showed support that transcended school colors.
We teach a lot of things that are not music in the band rooms across the state and country. We hope that we make an impact on the lives of these students and develop skills that will help make them into positive contributors to society. Experiences like this are great for encouraging our students to continue in band after middle school which in turn gives them more opportunities for development both musically and personally.
Zachary Shannon
Leestown Middle School
Fayette County Public Schools
6th-8th Band
