Helias band growing, so are its needs

Kelsi Lennon, Jordan Cowell and Andrew Roussin play the trombone during band class Thursday morning, Jan. 19, 2017 at Helias High School. Lennon a freshman, Roussin a sophomore and Cowell a senior, have all been working to improve their skills in the band, which has seen its numbers grow in recent years.
Kelsi Lennon, Jordan Cowell and Andrew Roussin play the trombone during band class Thursday morning, Jan. 19, 2017 at Helias High School. Lennon a freshman, Roussin a sophomore and Cowell a senior, have all been working to improve their skills in the band, which has seen its numbers grow in recent years.

The Helias High School band program's enrollment numbers have been swelling over the past few years, just as a swell in volume when a brass section comes in.

The number of students in Helias' program has about doubled since May 2015.

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Cary Jenkins

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS Dina Tyler, Sherry Glover and Carrie Kessler

Helias band director Tom Smyth said there were about 25 students at the May 2015 Helias band concert when he was formally introduced as the incoming band director.

This year there are 52 students in the band, including students in the color guard. They could even hit 60 next year, he said.

"When you're building," it definitely takes that much more energy, Smyth said of the continuing growth of the program and his commitment to it.

When Smyth and fellow band instructor T.J. Higgins came on board at Helias two years ago, it was their first experience teaching in a private school setting.

Smyth - a trumpet player himself - is also band director at Immaculate Conception Catholic School. Higgins - the principal trombone player for the Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra and a euphonium ("baby tuba") player, too - is director of band and music at St. Martin Catholic School.

"I give God the credit" for success in personal fulfillment on the job and the growth of the program, along with support from the school community, Smyth said.

He also "definitely gives deference to predecessors" for laying the groundwork he and Higgins have built on.

Smyth said he'd like to see close to 100 students participate in band annually within the next five years.

The goal of any band program is to get at least 10 percent of the overall student body to participate, Higgins said.

Helias' enrollment is currently about 700 students.

"I rely on the kids," Smyth said, noting band members are often ambassadors for the program. The relayed experiences of high school band members "going back to their home parishes" carry weight for prospective students.

Higgins said Helias' program also makes it a point for the band to visit local parish schools throughout the year.

Junior trumpet player Ben Husting said he appreciates getting to help incoming freshmen now as an upperclassman, as he appreciated making new friends through band his first year.

Although they prefer students interested in Helias' program have had some instruction in the past, especially if they don't take band in eighth grade, "we will always take kids who want to do band," Smyth said.

Senior percussionist and trombone player Jordan Cowell said when he joined band the second semester of his freshman year, he increased enrollment in the program from 10 to 11. The band wasn't big enough then for them do many large performances, he said, but now he appreciates being able to do concerts.

As the band at Helias continues to grow, though, so too will its needs.

Given the expected influx of eighth-graders who will enter high school soon, the band needs marching horns, concert French horns and new uniforms, Smyth said.

The uniforms are 13 years old, and "usually they last 10 years," Higgins said.

When the band was smaller, maintenance of equipment wasn't such a priority, Smyth said. It made financial sense at the time not to replace broken or worn-out items when there was a surplus, but that's beginning to catch up to the program now.

Smyth said they could use more percussion instruments, too, and having more would enable them to diversify the types of musical pieces the band can play.

In addition to instruments and uniforms, Smyth would eventually like upgraded storage space in the band room, like music lockers for individual students' instruments - the important but "non-glamorous" stuff.

The Helias band and the Interparish bands held a trivia night and silent auction fundraiser Friday at Helias' student commons.

Smyth also said the band is "really excited about the opening of the stadium" - the new athletic complex down the street planned to open for the fall sports season at Helias.

Having their own field not only means more control over the band's practice space, but it will help with scheduling, too, particularly on weekends, Smyth said.

When Helias shared a football field with Jefferson City Public Schools, Helias played home games on Saturdays. The band had to play eight weekends last fall between home games and music competitions, which was a lot, Smyth said. Having the games out of the way on Friday nights will help lighten their schedule.

Teaching band is about more than a lot of practice hours and growing needs, though.

"'I got into this to teach music, and I wound up teaching kids,'" Smyth said of a quote he heard in his education he understands more as time marches on.

Higgins takes pride in knowing 10 or 20 years after students graduate from band, they can still pick up their instruments and enjoy playing.

"Music is a lifelong skill, and I enjoy being able to impart that wisdom," he said.