Have you ever tried to give yourself a reason to join the performing arts center at Woodhaven High School? Well, here is a big one! Last week, Nov. 5th – 9th, the Woodhaven Marching Band and the Woodhaven Choir groups went to Disney World and Universal in Orlando, Florida.
The Woodhaven marching band and choir groups were chosen to come to Disney World every four years to have what they call band and choir workshops, where they play various Disney pieces written by cast members.
The marching band also has one opportunity during this trip to march in the parade at Magic Kingdom that they host every day where they have characters from various movies on floats, greeting everyone that came to see them. Thousands of people came to Magic Kingdom to see the parade, and they also had the opportunity to see the Woodhaven Marching Band perform as well!
The Woodhaven band and choir groups went to almost all parks of Disney World including Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Hollywood Studios, as well as Universal Orlando.
The marching band was able to go backstage at Magic Kingdom, where they performed in the parade, as well as backstage of Italy in Epcot, where they participated in Disney’s soundtrack sessions 2 ½ hour instrumental workshop led by a professional Disney cast member and saxophone player.
Students learned how to have fun and focus at the same time with these professionals. They learned how to sight-read music the right way–which is when you read and perform a piece the first time–they learned how to be responsible and work together.
The band sight-read disney movie classics such as the “Frozen Medley” from the end of the movie Frozen, “Friend Like Me” from the movie Aladdin, and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from the movie The Lion King.
Senior drum major and choir member Hayden Brasgalla said, “I thought the band clinic was very insightful. We learned a lot of insight on work that happens in Disney from a very good Disney crew member and saxophone player. I felt, overall, there was a lot of improvement on the group sight reading ability.”
The Woodhaven choir did their 2 ½ hour vocal workshop at a performance hall located next to Saratoga Springs Resort led by a professional Disney vocalist.
The choir worked a lot on “Bonjour” as well as “Beauty and the Beast”, both from the movie Beauty and the Beast. They sight-read these pieces and used their own voices as sound effects to put their vocals over the original track at the beginning of the movie.
Senior choir member Isabelle Kriebel said, “I think the choir clinic was perfect. It was the perfect day to do it. I am glad we did it when we went to Epcot because we didn’t have much to do in Epcot. I had a lot of fun and a really good time.”
A big part of the trip was the good memories the people will have of their marching band and choir years when they go to college. They made the best out of their high school years. The trip really brought the band and choir together.
Junior band member Latasha Kyle said, “I think the main thing we were supposed to get out of this experience was to have a positive memory of the high school marching band.”
Disney World is a place of love, unity and happiness. The place is known as the “most magical place on earth” for a reason. This was such a good opportunity for the students who went. They had the experience of working with professionals from a big company.
The band members also got the chance to read and perform through music they did not know what it would sound like because the songs did not have the titles of them at the top of them. This can be a little challenging for band members because when they know what they are playing, like let it go, they can understand where the melody is and how it goes and it is easier for them to pick out their mistakes.
Junior band member Latasha Kyle said, “My favorite part of Disney was spending time with my friends.”
Freshman choir and marching band member Leila Swaim said, “It was a fun experience to get closer to the people from band and choir and in a way it showed us how we had to act professionally because of the parade and everybody watching.”
This trip was made possible by the Woodhaven Band Boosters as well as the parents of both groups – band and choir – who went on the trip. But, this trip could not have been done without the help of the Band and Choir directors, Bradley Faryniarz and Chelsea Rize. Their planning ahead and calmness helped the trip run smoothly and soundly.
