Practice makes perfect for the Peoria High School band
Peoria, Arizona: Peoria High School’s band program recently received the William E. Richardson Program of Distinction Award from the Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association.
The William E. Richardson Award recognizes High School Band and Orchestra programs in Arizona that have a high level of achievement in all areas for a given school year. This is an annual award presented at the school, recognizing the school’s program for its achievement during the previous year.
William E. Richardson came to Arizona from South Bend, Indiana. He built the instrumental music program at both Pueblo High School and Palo Verde High School in Tucson where he retired as the Band Director. Mr. Richardson had outstanding programs that excelled in all areas.
Under the direction of band director Jeffrey Malone for the last five years, the Peoria High School band program contains roughly 125 students who participate in the Jazz, Marching, and Concert bands.
“In the achievement of this award, I give all the credit to my students,” Malone said. “I have the honor of working with the best students in the state of Arizona. They trust in the vision that I have for our band program and work diligently, day in and day out, to realize that vision. Nothing I do would be possible without their trust, commitment, and dedication to excellence.”
Practice makes perfect for Peoria High’s band. Malone said he and his band program work on their craft diligently.
“When we are preparing music, I like to rehearse in a macro-micro-macro format,” he said. “As we start working on new music, we will look at the big picture first — playing the right notes, playing the correct rhythms, understanding the overall shape of the piece, playing with a characteristic sound, etc.
“After the students get comfortable with those macro ideas, we will begin to dissect the piece as we start to focus on articulations, dynamics, releases, tuning, and smaller sections of the music. Then, as the performance gets closer, we will zoom back out and apply those micro ideas to the full piece of music.”
This is the first time any band program in the Peoria Unified School District has earned the William E. Richardson Program of Distinction Award. Additionally, Peoria High’s band was one of only eight music programs in the state of Arizona to earn the award.
Every hard-working group needs great leadership and morals, to help provide a path towards success, and Malone iterates to his band the three T’s.
“Every year, we begin the year by focusing on playing with the ‘3 T’s,’” Malone said. “That is, playing in tune, in tone, and in time.”
For Malone, “a commitment to doing what is best for your students is at the center of building a successful band program.”
“This program belongs to the students and I feel it is my duty to ensure that everything I do is in service of their growth and improvement,” he added. “Furthermore, I believe that you also need to hold students to a high standard of excellence in everything that they do. These students put in countless hours of work throughout the year and they deserve to see the fruits of their labor reflected in impactful and memorable musical experiences.”
“I work to help each student achieve their full musical potential by not compromising the standard of excellence that I know they are able to achieve.”
Sources:
- https://youtu.be/nTpDO3a3Zek
- https://www.aboda.org/2022/05/26/aboda-program-of-distinction-award/
- https://www.peoriatimes.com/youth/article_96dd33d6-4b24-11ed-a75b-cbaca3b80f08.html
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