Middle School All-State Band (MSASB) showcases the exceptional musical talents of young musicians from across Hawai‘i in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades who have just completed their first year of band. Unlike PMI’s other summer programs, MSASB is unique in that it is composed of the most talented middle school musicians who are nominated by their school band directors, based on character, embodiment of school values, and technical musical ability. These students are typically earlier in their musical journeys than some of our other students, and have had limited experiences playing in ensembles.
One thing we love about our Middle School All-State Band is how much it reflects the core values of our parent organization, Hawaii Youth Symphony, particularly to inspire and grow together. For these local band students, stepping outside their comfort zones can happen in many different ways. At Pacific Music Institute, we’re grateful to be a place where they can safely grow together.
All About All-State Band
In 2022, PMI was proud to collaborate with the Oʻahu Band Directors’ Association (OBDA) to create a summer band specifically designed for our newest players. “(Music) gives students a place to belong, a place to be successful, and a place to make friends,” says OBDA Past President, Andrew Ching. We couldn’t agree more!
Middle School All-State Band is a selective program where only a few students are chosen from each school. Thus, as MSASB Assistant Conductor Guy Lum describes, “the students that participate in the MSASB are always of a high skill level.” This creates a shift in teaching and conducting, as less time is spent on individual notes and rhythms and more time can be devoted to ensemble development.
MSASB Conductor Wayne Fanning echoes the sentiment, adding, “Beyond the music, the students learn to work together. They learn to help each other and they get to create something with a great deal of detail that they can apply to any aspect of their life.” We’re excited to take a deeper look into the ways our MSASB inspire and grow together.
Make New Friends
Middle School All-State Band brings together students from across the state and beyond. At PMI 2024, it consisted of 73 students from 20 schools, with 14 students hailing from neighbor islands and one student who traveled all the way from Washington State!
For these students, meeting peers from other schools is an opportunity they don’t get frequently. It broadens their social and music networks, providing fun learning experiences and new perspectives. In fact, many find this aspect the most enjoyable part of the program; a former MSASB student remarked that this was their favorite part: “The highlight of PMI was meeting new people from different schools and getting along with them to have an amazing performance.”
Our MSASB students often find inspiration in their peers; befriending students from other schools who share similar passions can be so motivating!
Music Education Continuity
Playing music over the summer offers many benefits to our students. While some of our other PMI students are used to private lessons and summer music programs, our MSASB students don’t typically have the opportunity to have formalized learning opportunities once school is out. One student reflected that “PMI made it possible for me to practice playing my instrument more over the summer so I don’t forget anything when I go back to school.”
Mr. Lum adds that high expectations and challenging repertoire provide MSASB students with a purpose, a goal to reach over the course of the week. This eventful and rigorous period is in stark contrast to what students may otherwise be doing, “a time that most students use to do absolutely nothing.” Providing inspiring learning experiences over the summer progresses students’ learning, decreases the chance of regression, and inspires them to continue growing in music and beyond.
New Musical Experiences
Being early in their musical journeys, our students often have only had experience with one band conductor at their school, and one type of ensemble. Joining the PMI Middle School All-State Band provides them access to additional conductors and the opportunity to play in a large band, allowing them to grow their perspectives of their instruments and a different way to view music.
“It was cool to learn from other band directors and their way of teaching,” said neighbor island MSASB student, Emmerson Ayat. “I’d only practiced in separate groups before, so PMI was the first time I had the opportunity to play altogether as a full group.”
Another student remarked that MSASB allowed them to “step outside of my regular boundaries and play with a much bigger band than I usually would.”
The high expectations and musical challenges Mr. Lum spoke of also add to students’ gained experiences and growth. One former student noted that PMI pushed them to memorize scales, which they had never done before. Another spoke about new performing experiences: “It was really fun to perform in front of a lot of people, which I haven’t done before. [It was also really fun to] show how hard we worked to create such astonishing music in just a week.”
A Place to Grow Without Judgment
One of our favorite pieces of feedback we receive about Middle School All-State Band is that it is an open, supportive environment where students feel they can be themselves and share their passion for music. This student said it best that “[MSASB] made it possible for me to perform with a passion for music [alongside] others who were also passionate about music. It’s where you can show your passion without being judged.”
This environment helps students find confidence in music and in life. Many of our students finish the week remarking how their confidence has grown and they feel like better musicians. Andrew Arceo, another MSASB student from a neighbor island, explains that “I’ve never been in a real orchestra before, so I wanted to see how it felt. I’ve been inspired to learn new skills and play at a higher level than I was before.”
As we reflect on another successful summer of Middle School All-State Band, we are reminded of the incredible talent and dedication of our young musicians. We are grateful to be a part of their journey and to provide a supportive and nurturing environment where they can inspire and grow together.
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