Band director aims to inspire
Many people lament the fact that they never learned to play the piano or wonder what would have happened if they had stuck with the trumpet or drums after getting out of school. Music education is often a fond memory and one that, many times, starts as soon elementary school.
Coastal Point • Monica Scott
Band director Clayton Riepen works with the band at Lord Baltimore Elementary School.
Clayton Riepen is the new band director for Lord Baltimore, Phillip Showell and Frankford Elementary schools in the Indian River School District. Originally from the Philadelphia area, he is a graduate of West Chester and took the band director job after falling in love with the area. He emphasized the importance of music education in the lives of young students.
“It’s that personal wealth,” Riepen said, “when you are at the concert and all eyes are on you. They look at you [as the director] and they come out of it having the biggest respect for themselves. They realize how much they have accomplished.”
He laughed before admitting that the winter concert at the schools is “terrible.” But lots of progress is made over the winter months, and the students get the chance to impress again in the spring. This year, in addition to the concerts held at each of the elementary schools, there was an audition process for band members, and 50 students will accompany Riepen to the Shorebirds’ stadium to play the national anthem at the Minor League game on May 21 at 7:05 p.m.
“I don’t know who is more excited – me or the kids,” joked Riepen.
He said that, besides the “creative musical aspect” of playing an instrument, being part of band and music education helps students with motivation, responsibility and time management. But he emphasized again that the most rewarding aspect is that sense of accomplishment the students feel once they master an instrument.
Riepen explained that the district gets many of its instruments as rentals through B&B Music. A few instruments have been donated, but they seem to come up short. So, he is asking the community for help by donating band instruments, which include saxophones, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones and tubas.
“We are trying to get the community involved — to back us up,” he explained. He added that he has “begged and pleaded” for instruments, as well as bringing in some of his own, and he said that even being able fix a broken instrument that someone has around the house is often less expensive than having to buy a new one.
“We have excellent kids, and the parents and schools are supportive,” he explained, “but there is only so much we can do with limited supplies.” He added that he has about 120 students in band right now, about 40 at each school.
“I am very proud of my students,” said Riepen, adding that “statistics show one of the biggest regrets adults have is not starting or continuing with a musical instrument. It’s like learning a new language.” He explained that participation in a music education program often dramatically improves students’ test scores and opens up the pathways between both sides of the brain.
“I urge all the parents to come and support the kids in what they have chosen to do,” he said. “We are in tough times, but after those first couple of years, the experience and amount of knowledge they gain – it’s tremendous.”
The Lord Baltimore band concert is set for May 11 at 6:30 p.m. The Phillip Showell concert will be May 12 at 6:30 p.m., and the Frankford Elementary concert is set for May 20 at 6:30 p.m. The LB band will also play at the Ocean View Homecoming Day on May 15. The Shorebirds appearance, with 50 students from all of the three elementary schools, is May 21 at 7:05 p.m. at the Arthur W. Perdue stadium in Salisbury, Md.
