JUPITER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – For most students who participate in the band or play an instrument, it starts with sound. However, for Morgan Murry it started with movement. Morgan’s first love and passion has always and will always be dance. Even before flute was a thought, Morgan felt rhythm in her bones. However, five years later she finds that same rhythm guides her every note.
Morgan is a new ninth grade student at JCS. When asked why she decided to join the band she said, “I love music, and I want to improve the skills I learned in elementary and middle school.” Morgan has enjoyed the first couple of months of JCS band. She shared her favorite part of it all, saying, “I love learning to play new songs and seeing how we come together, and all of the sounds blend and harmonize.”
While it is still early in the year, Morgan has found band to be challenging, exciting and educational. Her favorite moment thus far has been the Renaissance Remix concert. Not only did they get to play different music from this era, but they also learned about the significance of these pieces which made playing the music more meaningful.
Band is often overlooked for more popular athletic sports like football, basketball or soccer. What people don’t know or understand are a lot of the parallels between athletic sports and bands. For a musician to make improvements and become better the number of hours required is significant. Not only is there daily practice with the band, but there are also hours at home spent practicing. In addition, band teaches you about teamwork, like being on a football team. Each section of the band must work together to ensure the harmonies are synchronized to sound like one united unit.
When asked what lesson she most appreciates about band she stated, “Band has shown me how to work as a group and how to build teamwork. It has created a safe space allowing me to learn and make mistakes.” Whether Morgan is dancing to the rhythm or playing it, she proves that music isn’t just something you hear but something you feel.
