New Instruments? That's Music to their Ears at TDHS

Tuba or not Tuba? TDHS Students getting to try out a new Tuba and Trumpet

From North Wasco County School District:

By Stephanie Bowen

TDHS Music Director, Mic Kelly, stands in front of old band equipment

For many students who have passed through the walls and hallways of The Dalles High School, the band room has offered a safe sanctuary - albeit a not-so-quiet one.  

While music often sparks thoughts of creativity and self-expression, there is much more to be learned within the walls of the band room. Students have learned to work collaboratively here; they have learned a deep sense of self-respect and commitment as well as the importance of inclusion.

These walls have seen, and heard, a lot through the years. The stories they could tell come second only to the stories from the instruments themselves.

Each trumpet, tuba, clarinet, saxophone and oboe have been passed through the hands of dozens of teens through the decades. They have all had their fair share of use - from playing the shaky note of the tentative beginner to the bold and powerful melody of the experienced musician. 

1927 saw the end of silent films, the release of the Model A, and Charles Lindbergh's famous flight of the Spirit of Saint Louis. It also happens to be the model year of a tenor saxophone on the list of loaner equipment at TDHS. 

Back in October, the North Wasco County School District School Board approved the purchase of new instruments. Using Elementary and Secondary School Educational Relief (ESSR) Funds, the district allocated $70,000 toward the purchase of new equipment to replace and expand the band program.  

Mic Kelly, who is now at the helm of the TDHS band, hopes the new equipment will help open the doors for more students to take part in band who wouldn’t otherwise have access to an instrument. The new equipment will officially double the number of usable instruments on the loaner list.  

For years, the program has been utilizing a small number of severely outdated, broken instruments for student use. And while those melody makers in the loaner closet have seen the loving care of the likes of Lloyd Waldworth, Paul Viemester, and now Kelly - many have reached the end of their lifespan. 

But it’s not all about age, in fact, the 1927 tenor sax has recently been sent off for repair and will remain on the list of usable equipment.  Rather, those being replaced have been marked with yellow tags reading “major body damage”, “broken beyond repair” and “pieces no longer replaceable”.

Through careful cultivation and working collaboratively with instrument suppliers, Kelly was able to secure the new replacement equipment for a fraction of the retail cost.   The school district was then able to utilize ESSER funds to purchase the equipment.  ESSER is funding appropriated by the federal government to address the impacts of COVID-19 on education.  For the band, this means improving classroom safety and sanitation by bolstering inventory, so students don’t have to share equipment. It also advances and engages student social and emotional learning (SEL) - an area of learning hit hard by the pandemic. The purchase also helps level the playing field for students and families by taking the monetary element out of the equation for those who may be economically disadvantaged or impacted by COVID-19. 

“I’m excited, this is an investment in the future of our students. Purchasing these instruments will help create a more equitable opportunity for our students to participate.  Kids shouldn’t have to miss out because they don’t have an instrument,” said TDHS Music Director Mic Kelly.

In a time when many students are struggling, the band room walls have remained a haven, full of students who are engaged in learning and creativity. 

A few of the new instruments that are being added to the TDHS Band Loan Closet.

The new instruments are now rolling in, and students are excitedly checking out the shiny new pieces, eager to put them to use and to start a new story for each.  

If you would like to donate to the TDHS Band please contact Mic Kelly at  kellym@nwasco.k12.or.us. 

This story is sponsored by :

Jon Keyser

The Dalles Iron Works

Welding, Machining & Fabrication Since 1905 at 720 E. 2nd St., The Dalles.

Jon Keyser and his crew can solve your problems big or small, ranging from the manufacture of ornate iron gates to repairing heavy equipment. His team includes wife Holly and son Jon Jr. who have spent years dedicating themselves to community good, most notably on the Dufur Volunteer Fire & Ambulance.