Jefferson Forest High School - Selvetta Yearbook (Forest, VA)

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Band members rode a float in the Bedford Christmas Parade. The band sets up in the stands for a pep rally. The cheerleaders face the band as they play the national anthem before the Staunton River game. 143

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JFHS Band So often the student body does not realize the importance of their school band. If the events the band participated in were totaled, the number would undoubtedly surprise many. The year started with the activities of a pep band which play at football games, pep rallies, and basketball games. The dedication of the school brought out the first serious music of the year. Those attending were pleased as the song performed was a lively march and usually more somber pieces are performed at such serious functions. Band is a unique course in that it offers more self expression to the student. But, as in sports, the band is a team, cooperation is vital. With only fifteen members, this year's band was even more dependent than most. With neither uniforms, nor sufficient numbers, marching was out of the question for the Bedford Christmas Parade. After working over the weekend to build a float and improving uniforms, Jefferson Forest was assured of parade berth. The band's first major performance was the Spring Concert, per¬ formed jointly with the chorus, April 15. The band, along with every other organization, had beginning prob¬ lems. The first setback occurred before school even began when Mrs. Martin, the conductor, suffered a heart attack. Mrs. Bremner was in charge until the second six weeks, when Mrs. Martin retook her posi¬ tion. Funds are every organizations problem. After buy¬ ing music and instruments most vital for balanced instrumentation, and other immediately needed materi¬ al, the funds were exhausted and the music department was still lacking. The athletic department offered practically no fi¬ nancial aid, so a separate booster's club, the Band Boosters, composed of band members' parents was formed. Some ground was covered with the encourage¬ ment of donations from parents, businessmen, clubs, and with the proceeds from a performance by area gospel singers. Towards the finish of the year, students sold pennants, candy and stickers to obtain sufficient funds to place a deposit on uniforms for next fall. This year's band members had the satisfaction of helping the boosters design the uniform. One of the main interests this year lay in the hope of building the band into a unit that could compare with those outside Bedford County. This was done by playing before elementary school students, giving ele¬ mentary students music aptitude tests, and holding practices after school. Due to the efforts of Mrs. Martin and the band members, next year's band will triple in size. Late spring, summer, and fall activities are based on the marching performances anticipated. Next year, will see the JFHS band complete with drill team, drum major, and majorettes. Perhaps the highest pleasure of the band is the honor of performing at the baccalaureate service and commencement exercises for the year's graduating class. Best of all, to realize the school is dependent on the band's performance, for what graduation is com¬ plete without the traditional ''Pomp and Circum¬ stance ? During football season, the band played in the stands as a pep band.

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Chorus With Mary Callaham playing along, Mrs. Martin leads the Chorus. One definite handicap of this year's chorus was that the members had little or no prior experience with a chorus. With no funds, robes and music could not be purchased, preventing the possibility of a vari¬ ety of appearances. Progress was made on these problems, with the next one to be encountered that of familiarizing the student body with the chorus' activities. First per¬ forming for the dedication service, the next major appearance of the chorus was at the Spring Concert, where both the band and chorus made a fine showing.