Mike Pakaluk Promotes Music
Cabrillo band and orchestra students perform at elementary schools
On Tuesday, September 9, a group of students from the Cabrillo High School Band and Orchestra visited a number of elementary schools in the Lompoc Unified School District. According to Mike Pakaluk, the Cabrillo band director, their mission was " to allow younger students to see and hear different musical instruments and start getting excited about possibly starting on one of their own."
The students visited Crestview Elementary, Clarence Ruth Elementary, La Canada Elementary, Hapgood Elementary, and Vandenberg Middle School. They presented a total of seven performances throughout the school day at these different sites. Musicians featured were Jessica Kovach, Jeshua Hopson, Ryan Anderson, and Josh Forster (Violin Quartet), Isabel Tejada (flute), Emily Meehan and Kelcie Mertz (clarinet and saxophone), Vincent Leedham (trumpet), Thomas Li (trombone), and Patrick Ayer (trombone). Mr. Pakaluk also performed with the brass quartet.
These performances were given to help generate interest in the All-Valley band. Since our school district does not offer instrumental music in the elementary grades, the All-Valley band provides a program for students in 5th and 6th grade to begin learning music. When students begin learning music at earlier ages, they enter the high school programs as more developed musicians. Numerous studies have indicated that musical activity at an early age fosters brain development. it also provides students with a creative outlet, and for some, a "hook" to keep them excited about going to school.
For more information about the All-Valley Band, please contact Bill or Joni Betten at 733-4486. For more information about the Cabrillo High School Instrumental Music Program, contact Mike Pakaluk at 742-3444.
Musicians featured were Jessica Kovach, Jeshua Hopson, Ryan Anderson, and Josh Forster (Violin Quartet)
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