For the students who cannot get enough of plucking or blaring their instruments, the possibilities are endless. Six student musicians participate not only in the PHS band or orchestra, but also in ensembles outside of school.
These ensembles range in size from duets to hundred-person orchestras, and the time commitment is anywhere from three to six hours a week.
Sophomore Veronica Hou has been part of a musical organization at Holy Names University for six years and participates in a variety of contests and performances about three times a year.
“Performances are rewarding because although getting on stage may be nerve wracking, the satisfaction of finishing a piece makes up for it,” Hou said.
She spends an hour or two a week practicing, which she feels is a reasonable time commitment. However, she acknowledges that playing an instrument outside of school often becomes a significant time commitment.
“When someone studies privately, they have other independent pieces to work on, so the hours pile up,” Hou said.
Hou is currently working on a piano-flute duet with one of her friends.
“It’s jazz-influenced and I have a few solos in it, which is pretty cool,” she said.
Freshman Azul Kothari plays cello in the Berkeley Youth Orchestra (BYO) and in the PHS Orchestra.
“I joined because it seemed a lot more exciting than eighth grade orchestra,” Kothari said.
He practices throughout the week and attends a three hour rehearsal every Saturday.
“I spend Saturdays at BYO because playing music with 110 people is really fun. It’s also really loud,” Kothari said.
Band teacher Andria Mullan said that she only knows of a few students who participate in ensembles outside of school. She said that it improves their abilities, as do summer workshops and private lessons in which some students enroll.
Although playing in ensembles outside of school improves students’ abilities, the willingness to put in extra work is just as helpful.
“Students that are willing to put in that amount of time are already putting a lot into their instruments,” Mullan said.
