Strike Up the Band!

This is the last story of a multi-part series highlighting March as Music in the Schools Month.

Whether it’s learning the difference between a paradiddle or flamacue or an E flat scale or a B flat scale, or anything in between, Abbey Lochmoeller says the key to keeping kids involved in music is keeping them excited about what they’re learning along the way.

Lochmoeller has led the Nodaway Valley band program since 2021, where she leads a sixth grade, seventh and eighth grade and high school concert band, as well as other opportunities students have on the side.

“The kids are really excited. They love music and they love playing. I think that’s where you want to start,” Lochmoeller said. “You want to get them excited about what they’re doing so they love it.”

There are several skills that a person who wants to learn a musical instrument has to have that are parallel with to an aspiring singer. Lochmoeller feels band programs in schools might be a little more visible because of the marching band or pep band many schools have. Those who want to learn a musical instrument might have to invest a little more time than singers because of the mechanics and specifics of each particular instrument, such as learning the fingerings of notes.

Those starting out in band have a chance to touch all the instruments and get a feel for them before choosing which one they want to learn, but there are many factors that go into a student choosing which instrument they’ll begin with. Some students go on to learn other instruments.

“I love starting sixth graders or beginners because getting them excited about it is the important thing. Honestly, if a kid wants to do it, they’ll do it and put in the effort. I try to give kids as much flexibility with what instrument they want to play as long as it fits into the needs of the group,” Lochmoeller said. “If a kid has a certain lip shape, it might be hard to play flute. It depends on the kid’s personality and some physical features that might limit them, or they might have to find a way around those.”

Lochmoeller is a firm believer that success breeds success. Finding ways to give students success early on is a primary goal of hers for the middle school bands. Once they master one challenge, it’s important to give them a new one to aim for.

“My middle school group, they love everything I put in front of them,” Lochmoeller said. “If they get excited about how the music sounds they really want to put the effort in to make it sound good. I try to pick a balance of educational music and fun music that they might hear on the radio that they’re a little more familiar with.”

Nodaway Valley is experiencing low numbers right now in the high school band with only 16 students. The students work hard and have a good sound, but a challenge that comes with lower numbers is finding music to challenge them, Lochmoeller said.

The high school students also have opportunity for solo/ensemble contest, which they’re preparing for now. There are also honor band opportunities for middle and high schoolers. One example is the Pride of Iowa Honor Concert Band, which Melanie Kilborn, Adelaide Livingston, Titus Hamer, Austin Walker, Micah Cronk and Paul Kading participated in in March. Another saw Kenzie Lilly, Autumn Rhoads, Hadley Heckman, Rylee Schulte, Wendy Gutierrez, Leah Clayton, Aubrey Carns and Treena Woosley participating in the Lenox Honor Band for middle school students.

There are no seniors in the high school band this year, so Lochmoeller is hopeful the group will grow in size next year.

Lochmoeller’s excitement for music began at a young age, where she was involved in as many music activities as possible at Red Oak High School. She went on to study Central College where she had an opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Romania.

After college, Lochmoeller’s prior stops to Nodaway Valley included Sidney, Des Moines and Central Lee, Donnellson.

While she can play all the instruments and plays acoustic guitar as well, Lochmoeller’s primary instruments are in the woodwind family.

There are many benefits to participation in music activities. It engages the brain in ways that are different than other activities.

Lochmoeller is very proud of the work all her students have put in.

“If we had a world without music, where would we be?,” Lochmoeller said. “It’s such an integral part of our lives, from music to singing on the radio, it evokes a lot of emotion and makes you feel a certain way when you hear it.”