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Seasons
Changing at Springs Valley by
Megan Kuhnhenn - September 20th, 2005
Whether it’s the brisk night air cooling your face, the joy of an
afternoon football game, or simply the desire for ‘jeans and
sweatshirt’ weather, the coming of autumn means something special
to us all. This coming Thursday, appropriately enough, begins the
Autumnal Equinox, or better known to most as the first day of
the fall season.
But for the Springs Valley Blackhawk Brigade, the spirit of autumn
has been in the air for months.
Before the competitive season had concluded last year, Luke
Aylsworth, the director at Springs Valley High School, had already
been collaborating with his design team on show concepts for this
year. The music that stole their hearts was Eric Whitacre’s October.
And best of all, they
knew right away the perfect fit for an arranger – John
Meehan.
Meehan was inspired to create Springs Valley’s 2005 program “An
American Autumn” by the sights and sounds of an Indiana November
while traveling to BOA Grand Nationals. He then combined parts of
Whitacre's
October with his own original music to form the three movements of
the Blackhawk Brigade’s fall show – Indian Summer, Falling Leaf,
and Cold Fog.
“An American Autumn starts with the introduction
from Mr. Whitacre's October and then goes into my own
interpretation of what I experienced that fall day.” Meehan
said
Yet while the seasons are transforming on the field before the
audience’s eyes this year, Springs Valley has been developing a
cycle of its own for years.
With a very unique history beginning
back in the year 1938, Springs Valley and the Aylsworth family
has a legacy unlike any other of its kind. Before there was
‘Springs Valley High School,’ there was French Lick High School,
and its band director, Mr. Gilbert Aylsworth. If that name sounds
familiar, it should.
Gilbert Aylsworth is Luke Aylsworth’s
grandfather.
Luke Aylsworth’s father, John, was also a band
director at Springs Valley, preceding his son. John still
remains on staff with Springs Valley today.
“In
the sixty-seven year history of the Springs Valley Band, an
Aylsworth has been the director for sixty-one of those years,”
said Luke Aylsworth.
But sometimes things do not always need change to be effective.
There is one unique aspect of the Springs Valley band department
that stems from a tradition beginning with Gilbert Aylsworth. His
idea was that students might be more willing to join band if it
was not required to have your own instrument. His plan? To
purchase instruments on his own and rent them to students for
fifty cents per year. Although with slight inflation from fifty
cents to $35 per year – still a bargain compared to what the cost
of your own instrument might run you – the program is in full
operation to this day.
So what has this instrument rental program done for the Blackhawk
Brigade?
Well,
without the ever impeding costs, more students are free to
participate in band if they choose. And while the marching band
numbers alone have more than tripled in the past 4 years (from 25
in 2001) the total number of band students in the
Springs Valley School Corporation is astounding. With only 272
students enrolled in grades 9-12, the township as a whole has over
280 students enrolled in band.
Most astonishing in all of this is the fact that
every student in fifth and sixth grade is a member of the band.
With growth like this, one cannot help but ask, what lies
ahead for Springs Valley? The students at Springs Valley all agree
that this program is growing and they are excited to see the
changes.
“We have a lot of freshman that have joined and they are all great
members who are helping shape the program to continue to be
great,” said Whitney Dedrick, a junior percussionist.
They can already see changes taking effect at Springs Valley,
starting with an increase in three areas…
Capabilities.
“This time last year it seemed as if we were still fixing more
major things like marching and music problems, but this year we
have already gone past that,” says Hallie Conrad, a junior trumpet
player. “We are working on more detailed things like putting in
visuals and fine tuning music.”
Dedication.
Balee Watson, a junior and 2005 Drum Major for the Blackhawk
Brigade, said, “I don't think we could have put the entire
show together at this time last year. This year we were able
to put it all together at the end of August.”
It is interesting to note that the Brigade's 2005 show has 100
charts.
Watson added, “That was definitely a major step for us. We have
a lot of hard workers in our band that always give it all they
have.”
Accomplishments.
“At this time last year, we definitely did not have this much of
the show completed. I am totally amazed at how much we have
accomplished this year!” added Mimi Wheat, a senior guard member.
“As seasons change and time passes, we realize that the amount of
time we have left to participate in something we love shortens. We
make goals for ourselves such as “to leave it all out on the field
and have no regrets,” says A.J. Apple, a junior alto sax.
And like A.J., Watson and the rest of the band also realize how far they’ve come
to get to this point.
“My five years in band are one big
memory. What I mean by that is that my first year in marching
band we were a 20 member band. And well, we weren't very good
at all.”
Watson added, “But every year we got bigger and
better. Then last year we made it to Regionals. So, I guess my
fondest memories are the ones where I just look back and
realize that we used to be practically nothing, and now we are
a band that people are actually talking about again. That just
makes everything worth while.”
And they certainly leave behind
plenty of high hopes for the future of their program.
“I would like to give a word of warning to the rookies. Marching
band is not like any other activity or sport. It is far more
demanding,” added Elizabeth McElroy, a senior flute player for the
Brigade.
“It teaches self discipline and perseverance. But if you join and
work hard, it will be the best thing you will ever do.”
So at the end of this year when the Blackhawk Brigade steps off
the field, the seasons will change, and another autumn will come
around next year with its brisk night air, afternoon football
games, and perfect ‘jeans and sweatshirt’ weather.
But for right now at least, the Blackhawk Brigade is living their
very own American Autumn—something students, parents, and marching
band fans everywhere will enjoy while it’s here.
Best of luck to the Blackhawk Brigade for continued success during
the 2005 marching band season!
Megan Kuhnhenn is a 2002
graduate of Lawrence Central High School. Megan was drum major for
the Spirit of Central for three seasons, including head drum major
when Lawrence Central captured the 2001 BOA Grand National
Championship. She was also the drum major for Capital Regiment in
2005, where she recently aged out. Megan is currently a student at
Ball State University as an elementary education major. This is
Megan's third year as a staff member for IndianaMarching.com.
