Everyone enjoys music; from pop to rock, rap to indie, or jazz to hip-hop. Music is a language understood and used by all.
But what is something that brings together these pieces that many adore? What is the element that melds everything together?
The instruments.
Whether it be the strum of a harp, the light tap on a drum, or maybe even the ripple of violas and violins, instruments are key to every piece of music.
I found myself wondering how these voiceless beauties come together to create the music that I listen to on a daily basis.
While sitting in on a class with our own orchestra here at Broomfield High School, I was left in awe by how gracefully each and every song came together; this blend between pop songs such as Thriller by Michael Jackson and the more common classical pieces like Jubilant Overture by Alfred Reed.
I would not consider myself on the musically inclined side of things, but one class period was all I needed to fall in love with our own school’s talented orchestra.
The average class period begins with “the bandle, which is like a wordle for music,” says Keira Rising—a member of the orchestra. Rising continues on, relaying the order of which the class is structured, “after the bandle we warm-up, and then we run through our songs and work on pieces that we’re not doing as well on.”
It’s a simple structure that could become mundane fast, yet doesn’t due to the orchestra teacher, Skylah Sillman.
Although Mrs. Sillman only began her teaching here at Broomfield High a year ago, she has already had a tremendous impact on her students. Students like Gracie Lambrecht who described Mrs. Sillman as “a really fun teacher that is always putting forth her best effort in class.”
Lambrecht wasn’t the only one who has been positively impacted by Sillman’s twist on the regular curriculum, Jack Jeffries also had many words to share about Mrs. Sillman. Jeffries shares how Sillman “elevated the program from where it used to be.”
Where it used to be referring to the “really small orchestra run by the old orchestra teacher” as Lambrecht describes it.
All three students I interviewed could have gone on for days about the almost quadrupled member numbers, the amazing set-list created by Sillman, and the welcoming and bubbly environment that Mrs. Sillman generates.
But one thing that kept true throughout the interview was the differences between earlier years in orchestra compared to how it is now.
And the one individual who has brought this well-needed change was none only then Mrs. Sillman!
Eagles who hope to see what Sillman and the orchestra have created over the past few weeks can come watch them play on October 10th at the BHS Auditorium. Don’t miss out on this journey through different genres of music.
