Thomas A Edison High School - Talon Yearbook (Fairfax County, VA)

Page 33 text:

Band Increases School Spirit at Ball Games and Pep Rallies Band students put instruments in proper places ready for use the next time. Instrumental proficiency was developed in Edison’s band under George Duman’s direction. Basic principles of musical presentation and coordination were taught. Edison’s band, proclaimed the best amateur musical organization in the Maryland-District Columbia area, dem¬ onstrated its versatility and proficiency many times this year. The student body was entertained at pep rallies, bonfires, and assemblies. During half-time at football games, the band added to the spirit and excitement with demonstrations of combined musical and marching skill. The band worked in four groups. The concert band, the reserve band, and the marching band are all part of the skillful, proficient group which has brought many honors to Edison. Musicians concentrate on achieving perfect harmony. Edison’s marching band eagerly await tbeir chance to perform at half-time. 29

Page 32 text:

MR. DOYLE CATLETT Choral Director Combined choruses jointly perform at Capitol Rotunda. Chorus in the operetta, Down in the Valley, provide a singing narration. Senate Rotunda Performance Highlights Choruses’ Activities It’s a segregated day for the mixed chorus as Mr. Catlett directs only the boys. Doyle C. Catlett’s direction coordinated the four choruses into a fine musical group. The two girls’ choruses and the two mixed choruses received adequate musical instruction as well as participating in many extracurricular activities. Many excellent programs were presented by the choruses, the highlight of the year being a presentation in the U.S. Senate Rotunda. Mr. Catlett taught not only the basics of music to his classes, but concentrated on such subjects as volume and breath control. The choruses benefited from this training, and the result was a group whose productions were char¬ acterized by both quality and harmony. 28

Page 34 text:

MR. RONALD WISNIEWSKI Department Head Julia Schaitberger creates an imaginative composition in chalk for Mrs. Monk’s Art III class. Art Students Learn Principles and Elements of Art Mr. Wisniewski teaches art students the ancient craft of pottery making. Painting, drawing, sculpture, graphs, design, and mixed medium are all included in various aspects during at least one of the four separate courses in art offered at Edison. The field of art study is open to any student with a “C” average, and an interest in art. The Art Department also works in conjunction with the Industrial Arts Department. Among other activities, students of art have decorated bulletin boards throughout the school, and have worked on weekly parallel projects. Many are members of a select group, the Art Guild, which was responsible for the decorative Christmas cards sold during the holiday season. Art III and IV classes took an all-day excursion to New York City where they visited the Gugenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, and the Whitney Museum of Art. The goal of the Art Department is to teach the appre¬ ciation and full understanding of the principles and ele¬ ments of both modern art and the art of earlier periods. It is hoped that the various field trips help to enhance art appreciation and to introduce students to the new styles and techniques of the professional art world. 30