Brandon Twp.- Band students will march to the beat of a new assistant band director this year.
With an increasing number of students in the band program, Laura Ketchum, 22, has been hired to primarily help band director Russ McMartin with Brandon High School band, but also will assist Roy Johnson with band at Brandon Middle School and will teach percussion, low brass and choir at Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School.
‘This has always been what I’ve wanted to do,? says Ketchum. ‘I feel very fortunate to have gotten a job right out of college.?
Ketchum graduated this year from Western Michigan University with a degree in music education. She got hooked on music when she was 7-years-old and began playing the piano. She began band in sixth grade, playing trumpet and switched to low brass– her main instrument is the euphonium (baritone).
‘Music is such a great outlet,? says Ketchum. ‘I look forward to teaching fine arts classes because I’m a hands-on learner. You can be creative in a different way.?
The Brandon High School Band has grown over the last seven years under the direction of McMartin, from 55 members in the fall of 1998 to over 140 members this year (up from 130 last year). The band recently returned from band camp at Northwood University, where they practiced this year’s show theme, Beethoven.
‘It’s a very challenging drill,? says Ketchum. ‘It has twice as many moves as last year. We threw a lot at them, but they responded really well.?
The BHS band will be even more challenged after recently joining the Michigan Competing Band Association (MCBA), an elite league of bands. They will compete this year against Clarkston, Linden and Durand on different weekends in October. Ketchum describes it as like being on tour, the purpose of which is to see what different bands are doing. She predicts the students will fall in love with the MCBA style.
The BHS band will continue to participate in Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association festivals, holiday and spring concerts and prefestivals.
Ketchum is looking forward to all of it.
‘I’m lucky to be team teaching with two gentlemen (McMartin and Johnson) who have vast experience and who’ve built a strong program,? she says. ‘The kids get a great opportunity. They have a lot of things going for them.?