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Show January 20, 1995 Page 17 Cross Currents FESTYLESED U CATION Cortezs high school band excels all the way to Normandy By Diane Allen Shimmering orange and black Then comes the the band room, though empty, is humming with energy. Four kettle drums huddle together, reflecting the light bouncing off orange chairs scattered on risers. Drums of graduated sizes march along shelves on one wall, while enormous instrument cases that have seen better days hug the opposite wall. A drum tossed under the risers keeps company with a stray shoe. Trophies, trophies and more trophies line the other walls of the Montezuma-Corte- z High School Bands room. Excellence is a long tradition for the g Panther band. They are three-tim- e Colorado state champions and been have state finalists every year are for more than a decade. They have received a 1 or 1 (the highest possible score) at every large group festival they award-winnin- have participated in since 1978. They won first place in their class at the University of Utah Band Festival in 1988 and the University of New Mexico Zia Festival in 1992 and 1994. The Jazz Band won, literally, everything at the Texas Tech Jazz Festival in 1991. The Panther band has traveled coast to coast, including three trips to the Portland Rose Festival and the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and a trip to to Washington D.C., performing at the White House for a Fourth of July celebration. They marched in the nations 300th birthday parade in Philadelphia and made music at the Worlds Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee. Denver has seen them in the Parade of Lights and in the Denver Broncos halftime show Band director Gary Hall expects excellence from his students. Hall comes During marching season, they voted to practice every morning at 6:30, and they devote all day Saturday to practice. from a long tradition of musicians himself. His father was a band director, as was his grandfather before him. When Hall started as a student at Adams State College, he wanted to major in history, but all the history classes were full. He enrolled in music classes instead, and since he had been playing the piano since he was five years old, he excelled. The next thing I knew, Hall says, was a music major. Some say music is an educational 1 frill, but Hall disagrees. I feel its one of the most important things we teach kids. While parents often complain that students arent taught to think, Hall suggests that music teaches higher thinking skills. They used to say bands were good because only smart kids took band. But I think music makes you smarter. Its not just being smart that makes Halls bands achieve, though. Its lots of Continued on page 18 Start your New year Right With cIhe SCome of your 'Dreams. It's Ready for you 9gzv at ttOMESl 1848 SQ.FT. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths :; j i- lar- - you Deserve It! Taped and Textured Throughout 90" Ceiling Height Dual Glazed Windows Fireplace Ceramic Tile in Kitchen 412 Roof Pitch30 lb. Snowload Colorado Coded See-Thr- u Cathedral Ceilings R11 Floor, R19 Walls, R30 Ceiling Many More Wonderful Features V - 1028 W. Main FARMINGTON New Mexico (505) V? Mon-F- u ri Saturday Derv 9-- 5 10-- 4 After Hours by appointment 327-963- 1 The Four Comer's Leader in Quality Manufactured Homes .N.M..DL. m 2 for 22 years. |