At every football game in the fall, every musical in the spring, and every few weeks in the commons,

theres music at Howell High School. At any time of the day, a stroll down the arts hallway is all it takes to witness students hard at work preparing for the next performance with their instruments. Music is the way almost two hundred Howell students escape from the pressures of their everyday lives. At the helm of the musical world at HHS is band director Jason Smigell. To watch him direct one of his bands is to watch someone who is not only committed to what he does, but enjoys every single moment of it. Its an interesting job I have a lot of kids, says Mr. Smigell. The band program consists of Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Music Seminar (affectionately known as School of Rock). Concert Band is the freshman band, while Wind Ensemble is the most advanced band. A majority of band students are in Symphonic. Mr. Smigell grew up in the Plymouth/Canton area, and attended Canton High School. There he was a drum major for their marching band. It was his junior year when he made the decision to go into music. He started taking more lessons and practicing his alto saxophone more and more. Attending the University of Michigan, Mr. Smigell earned a BA in music in 1995. His first teaching job was in Cass City, Michigan, where he taught for three years until he was offered a fellowship to get his Masters Degree from the University of Michigan. He was given the position of graduate instructor of the marching band, for which he also wrote drill. Mr. Smigell came to Howell High School in 2001. Theres a lot of work after school and weekends but as of now I have no papers to grade. The duties of a band director dont end with the school day. In the fall, marching band takes place every day after school; MSBOA Band Festival takes place in March, and is the most important performance of the year for all of the bands; the spring musical is always accompanied by a pit orchestra; and once a week, the Jazz Band and Irish Band rehearse after school. The average lifespan of a high school band director is four years, says Mr. Smigell. Five years ago, five years after taking the job in Howell, Mr. Smigell almost left music and went back to medical school. He went as far as signing the buyout on his contract before he remembered why he was a band teacher in the

first place. I thought of some things I could do differently. The job is stressful, but I reminded myself that I love music and I love helping people [and] medical school takes a long time. Mr. Smigell is one of my favorite teachers. When he has the same group of students for four years there is a bond with all of us that sets him above the rest. We all respect him because he relates well to us, and that also results in us listening more and getting more work done, says junior Emma Truax. This year is Mr. Smigells 11th year teaching in Howell. Lots of teachers think they have the hardest job, but everyone has a different kind of patience, says Mr. Smigell. I did fine in science class, but I could never teach it. All of the energy Mr. Smigells students put into their music is met and doubled by the amount he himself exhibits every single day. Though his conducting techniques may be considered extreme, sometimes appearing more like dancing than conducting, he is clearly doing something right. His students love him. Hes so passionate about his kids and the music that not only does he make you want to be a better musician, but also a better person, says senior Bonnie Gregory. Teaching is Mr. Smigells career, but music is his passion. He describes music as his shield, and as everything to him. And when he gets in front of his students, its clear that the only thing on his mind is the music. Music gives me the greatest feeling of elation but when I see the students light up, because they get it too, theres nothing better, he says with a smile and glowing eyes. Mr. Smigell thinks that he is the luckiest of teachers. When a kid gets an A on a math test, theres no way its the same feeling. The mood is always light in the band room; jokes and laughs fly around the room every hour of the day. Mr. Smigell is the biggest advocate of having a sense of humor, always willing to interject with a one liner, but at the same time, things get done. He says he tries to be consistent, prepared, and effective. I want to convey that every day is important I think Im good at connecting, and bringing the energy, but I want to be inspiring To know that I played a significant role in a students life is one of the best parts of teaching. As he is summoned by the students in his Music Seminar, waiting to perform their newest number for him, Mr. Smigell offers a piece of advice; Even

if things are going badly, dont ever give up. Things are never as bad as they seem. If someones trying to kill you, things are probably as bad as they seem, but other than that, they are almost never as bad as they seem. Dont ever give up. And with that, he returns to his band room like a captain to his ship, and the music begins again.