After 37 years with things moving in the same direction, the band program is experiencing some changes. The Chaparral band welcomed a new director this year. Thomas Turpin. With the new director came a new style of teaching.
“There are certain things that I’m comfortable with that I feel like can help me to be the best version of myself as a teacher,” Turpin said. “I want to make sure that I’m doing things in ways that have seen success, that I know will help the band be more successful.”
As the band program develops, it’s not just the directors who are changing. Some of the most significant modifications are in the band’s policies and director’s teaching style. Turpin has implemented changes that he believes will help the band excel. However, some students are not initially happy with the differences, particularly a change with a bus policy. Instead of being able to sign up for any bus, the buses are now set as sectioned buses.
“Sitting on the band bus with my friends has been one of the highlights [of band], and I share my most memorable memories with my friends who aren’t in my [instrument] section, and that’s kind of the only time I can interact with them,” senior Nicole Wynne said. “By seating us in sections [on the bus], you take away that bond. And I think that in the future, we’re going to have a very sectioned band who does not know the other members at all.”
Other changes have received more acceptance. The musicians realize that some of the changes that Turpin implemented can be beneficial to the way the band operates.
“As much as I dislike some of the changes, I have realized that many of them are going to be helpful once we start competitions,” sophomore Meredith Hudson said.
As all changes are first received, the Chaps will take time to get used to Turpin as a director, and settling into new routines while providing feedback.
“I like to ask for opinions a lot, and I enjoy talking to people to see what their thoughts are,” Turpin said. “And what I am hearing is that even if they may not be the biggest fan of it, a lot of the kids have been able to look at it objectively, and they see that efficiencies have increased. People tell me that it feels like change, but for me, it’s just how I teach.”
New Chaparral Marching Band changes:
New partner policy: Band members are now required to have a partner when going to the restroom during a game. The partner is responsible for holding that member’s instrument.
-Having a partner for going to the bathrooms at games as well as them holding your instrument. Instead of just leaving the instrument on the bleachers
-Playing quizzes due during the first week of band camp. Instead of the first one being due later in September
-Allowing the band to leave at their own time during away games, instead of doing a full band dismissal
-Spending more class time on warmups (25-30 mins of warmups)
