The Timber Creek Orchestra Program allows students and parents to have an appreciation for music
By: Cresna Tolbert
More than an elective. Timber Creek High School offers a lot of choices for electives. They range from scientific electives, to law electives, to the fine arts. The fine arts electives include chorus, band, theatre, and orchestra. But these courses are more than easy A classes. Electives like orchestra offer students a chance to incite their hidden talents, engage in the importance of music, and to grow as a person.
The orchestra program is run by Diana Tang. Tang has only been teaching public music education for 2 years, both of which have been at Timber Creek. Nevertheless, she’s ready to teach students more about the art of music. When it comes to the orchestra program, Tang wants to “rebuild” it. Tang joined the Timber Creek team during the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, where most students were online. Not only that, the previous orchestra teacher, Staci Conckling, left due to health concerns. “It has taken quite a hit from the pandemic. I’d like to have a solid foundation as we rebuild our program,” said Tang. The method Tang plans to use to rebuild the program is by inspiring parents and future high school students through concerts. Orchestra concerts allow the whole orchestra program to show off their talent to parents and the community. When concerts are over, Tang wants the younger audience to leave “inspired to continue their music education in high school,” and the parents to leave “proud and awed at the product their students created.” Tang acknowledges that the orchestra program isn’t perfect, saying there’s a “plethora [of ways] to improve [the] program,” but she hopes that with this school year and all the school years to come, that orchestra can inspire young kids and awe parents.
And she’s doing just that. Bailey Bryant is a senior at Timber Creek High School, and has been in the orchestra program for his freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Orchestra for Bryant has been “the best part of [his] high school experience,” Not only due to the safe environment Tang has created, but also due to Tang’s commitment to helping her students succeed. Learning music is similar to learning another language; it takes a good teacher to help you understand the content. “She’s really good at teaching and conducting. She makes the music really understandable for the students,” said Bryant. Not only is Tang good at teaching the class as a whole, she also takes time to focus on individual students. “For me she does a really good job at teaching me how to teach as I’ve been helping students with the music recently and she’s been really wonderful,” said Bryant. Besides being loved by students, the orchestra program is also respected by parents. Michele Pina is a parent of a student who is in the orchestra program. She likes how the orchestra program “enhances [her] child’s performance level” and “gives [her child] a sense of belonging,” Pina appreciates how the orchestra program is growing her child as a musician and a person.
The Timber Creek Orchestra Program is more than just an elective, or an easy A class. It’s a place where hidden talent is exposed and experience grows. Orchestra allows for students to find and express their passion for music, while helping parents and the new generation fall in love with music.
