What Students Should Know About Changes to the WHS Band and Orchestra Programs

The clarinet section during the Kaleidoscope Concert 2024. Photo Creds: Charlie Stumb, Watauga Yearbook

Abbi Clark and Ian Biles, Staff Writers to The Powderhorn 

On Tuesday March 18, registration opened for rising freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Students were surprised by some major scheduling changes regarding band and orchestra classes, the main change being that the traditional A/B, year-long classes for band had been replaced by semester-long block classes and orchestra moved to a different block. These changes left students with a lot of questions: Why were these changes made? How can students keep participating in a program that conflicts with the academic schedule?  How will this affect a potential music career? This can be unsettling for many students, but not all questions have to be left unanswered.  

Though some students worry that these changes are unwarranted, faculty has explained that they maintain the students' best interests in mind. 

“We aim to provide flexibility while still building robust programs for our students,” said Principal Dr. Scott Strickler. “It is crucial for us to listen to student concerns and understand the impact that our decisions have on their schedules.”

Due to the current budget cuts and position shifts throughout Watauga County, William Selle will discontinue his role as the high school orchestra director and continue full-time at the middle school level.

“I'm moving to Blowing Rock School in the afternoon and I'll serve the middle school band and orchestra there along with my traditional job in the mornings at Hardin Park,” said Selle.

The responsibility of directing the orchestra program will be transferred to Taryn Wooten, the current band director. Wooten has several years of experience as a band director but limited experience when it comes to the orchestra.

“The music reading itself is the same, but all of the techniques are completely different,” said Wooten. “It would be like taking a soccer coach and saying, ‘You're now also going to coach football because you play on the same field.’” 

As for schedule changes, orchestra will remain an A/B class but move to second block instead of third, while the band will move to semester-long block classes. This not only concerns Ms. Wooten, but those student-musicians who have planned on taking band courses year long.

“We've built our program back after COVID exploded things. We have a solid jazz band that's doing gigs here and at the Appalachian Theater that we are filling out parts from our other year-long programs,” said Wooten. “We also just got back from a really successful MPA trip. We took 49 people, which is fantastic. That's great numbers. We were able to be really successful and bring back a superior for the school. It just worries me that we won't be able to go and represent the community and the district as much, just because of changes to scheduling.”

The band obtained the highest score possible, a “superior” from the music adjudication event (MPA).  This impressive score was the result of months of dedicated work from all the students within the program, with supplemental FLEX meetings twice a week and weekly after-school rehearsals. However, with the upcoming changes, this level of commitment may not be as attainable. 

“I foresee that some of the key leadership and student team members that are the leaders in the orchestra are going to change because of the conflicts with the schedules,” said Selle. “ I also foresee that the musical level will either maintain its current level or slightly decrease because of the change in leadership.”

This is an uncertain time for many current and up-and-coming students who are involved in the band and orchestra programs, but the teachers involved are willing to do what it takes to continue ensuring the best environment for students to express themselves through music.

“Ms. Wooten and I and the current band and orchestra program are still just as strong as ever and passionate about making high-level music,” said Selle. “And we are excited for the opportunity to overcome these challenges that we are facing.”