Gilroy
– Imagine watching a scene in Star Wars where Darth Vader enters
to the sound of the clarinet, or picture John Wayne riding off into
the sunset accompanied by the music of the tuba – it just wouldn’t
happen. But at Ascension Solorsano Middle School it does.
Gilroy – Imagine watching a scene in Star Wars where Darth Vader enters to the sound of the clarinet, or picture John Wayne riding off into the sunset accompanied by the music of the tuba – it just wouldn’t happen. But at Ascension Solorsano Middle School it does.
The middle school band lacks instruments necessary to create what music instructor Howard Miyata describes as ‘hero music.’
“If you ever see a movie and the hero enters in a Western, or the villain in Star Wars, it’s usually French horns playing in the background,” he said. “It’s all hero music. It’s great.”
The students at Solorsano just can’t play it.
Miyata and his fellow teaching partner, Creighton Yip have been teaching music in the Gilroy Unified School District for at least 25 years.
Together they own many of the instruments used in classrooms across the district. Yip alone owns seven tubas. “And when I go, they go,” he said.
Tubas cost about $2,000 each, baritone saxophones are nearly $2,500 and French horns can run almost $800.
These are instruments many parents are reluctant to purchase if their own young maestro has yet to establish a long term interest in the brass, so they depend on the school to provide them.
“In the old days, schools used to purchase (instruments) when a new school was built,” Miyata said. But times have changed, and when Solorsano was built there was no money put aside for buying instruments to accompany the music room he said.
Now, Miyata and Yip rely on private donations to fill the gaps in their program. Otherwise, they attempt to purchase instruments on their own. But this method is expensive for teachers, and the instruments do not remain at a school once the teacher retires or leaves.
Currently there is a waiting list among students for the oboe, tuba and French horns (if the school ever gets any.)
While the cost may be hard to swallow – instruments are a long term investment.
“They can last forever if you take care of them,” Yip assured. He estimated that Solorsano needs at least $8,200 to complete the band.
“I don’t mind buying used, just as long as it plays,” he said.
Whether the students play hero music or not, Miyata and Yip enjoy the process of teaching to middle-schoolers.
“Once you get their attention, they just run with it,” Miyata said. “Their eyes light up when they’re playing something really cool to listen to – that’s what it’s all about.”
