Student bands create their own sound outside of school

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Josh Harrison

Although they play a significant role in SPA’s many bands, the student musicians take their talents outside of school as well.

9th grader Jayden Jones has recently formed a band with five other students who he has been friends with for a couple of years. He thinks that being part of a band gives him a place to be with others who share his passion outside of school: “One of the things I love most about being in a band is the feeling of being around other people who like music just as much as me,” Jones said.

9th grader Olivia Fenlon, a member of a different band appreciates music for a different reason than the connections able to be made with other people: “I feel like it takes the stress away from my life,” Fenlon explains, “I get to think about music rather than a test that’s coming up or something else. I don’t feel as stressed as I usually do.” Fenlon is the rhythm guitarist for her band, which is currently practicing for a concert they have coming up at Famous Dave’s.

Many students who play live music feel like their art is not appreciated enough for the work they put in. “The problem now is there are less young people starting bands and making live music, and not as many young people are going out listening to other young musicians,” 9th grader Henry Burkhardt said. He is the pianist for the SPA Blue Jazz band and has previously played in two school bands. He is also a member of the Untitled Music Club.

“If it weren’t for music, I would be a completely different person,”

— Jayden Jones

9th grader Jayden Jones said.

For those who create music, the way they listen to it changes a lot: “I feel an odd sense of gratitude that I’m able to understand what goes into it, I feel like it connects me with the music a lot deeper than not having experience,” Jones said.

To be part of a band you have to learn how to play an instrument; Burkhardt feels very strongly about others learning music. “In general I think everyone should learn one instrument or more than one, but a lot of the times kids stop learning an instrument because their parents are the ones that force them into it with the hope that they will become a child prodigy. But I think self-motivation is really important, because if you really want to get good at an instrument you have to want to do it, and it can’t be someone else who wants to make you do it.”

Jones, Fenlon, and Burkhardt are all grateful for their opportunity to play music.

“It gives me freedom,” Jones said to describe playing live music. “It’s an amazing experience.” Burkhardt added that “Every musician is dependent on one another.”

“It’s definitely a stress reliever,” Fenlon said.