PEGASUS MAGAZINE SFFlNG 2013 17

A
few years ago, my son, Ian
'IJ, neeJeJ a riJe to Arts
Night because he was on
the tech crev. Rather than
spend the couple of hours
at Target, I decided to endure what I
lully expecteJ to le a meJiocre concert.
Moments after the band began to play, to
my surprise (and Ians dismay), I was on
my feet, dancing and singing to some of
my lavorite classic rock songs. The Clash.
The Cure. The music I grev up vith.
Yes, the Pegasus band was really that
gooJ. AnJ they still are.
But how does playing in a rock
bandloud music and
allbt in vith a Pegasus
eJucation` Quite nicely, says
MiJJle School Director ]oe
Villiamson.
The band allows creative
expression in a form that
resonates with this group of
stuJents, Villiamson says.
The conbJence that comes
from performing is an essential
component ol leaJership. The
fact is, they not only have fun;
performing develops skills
wed like to see in all Pegasus
graJuates.
Creative expression and
conbJence are inJeeJ skills
that Pegasus strives to develop
in its stuJents, lrom preK on.
And its clear from speaking with current
and former band members and their
teachers that practicing and performing
in the lanJ bts vith the school's mission.
During a recent elective period, the
band students entered the music room
oblivious to the presence of a visitor, so
focused were they on getting down to the
lusiness ol practicing their music. It isn't
easy to pull them away from what they so
clearly love to talk to a wanna-be groupie
mom, lut they complieJ.
I like the whole idea of expression
and how I really can say anything I
want with my music, says Cole Mitchell
13, who plays guitar, bass, drums, and
keyloarJ, anJ also sings. He anJ his lanJ
mates have lourisheJ in the Pegasus arts
program, beginning with music teacher
Cheryl Vilson lack in lover school.
She was always the one getting us
on the xylophone, teaching us the notes,
says lanJ memler Vells Drayton 'I3,
vho also plays multiple instruments.
Vilson recogniteJ talent in loth
Cole anJ Vells early on. I rememler
Cole in kinJergarten, she says. He haJ
pipes even then. Vith Vells, she says, I
could tell he had an ear, and its great to
see him Jeveloping his ovn style. He's a
quieter guy, lut nov he's so conbJent.
In aJJition to luilJing conbJence,
miJJle school music teacher Fric
Hartwell says the students learn
collaloration anJ prollem solving skills.
FveryloJy knovs you have a strength
and a weakness, and everyone gets a
chance to work on those strengths and
veaknesses here, he says. Fven though
they may not go on to have professional
careers, thats not necessarily our goal
here at Pegasus in the arts department
I think what theyll end up leaving with
is the conbJence that il they vant to
include this in their lives somehow, they
will have had the opportunity to have
put something together in a professional
vay.
Former Pegasus band members Nate
Potin 'IJ anJ AnJrev Irancini creJit our
school program with inspiring a passion
and a collaboration that began with
a talent shov gig in blth graJe. Nov
high school juniors, Nate anJ AnJrev,
together with a third friend, still play
together in a lanJ calleJ Point Loma.
Last summer they produced an album in
India, now available on iTunes, and they
have performed at venues such as the
House ol Blues in Anaheim anJ Vhiskey
AGoGo in Los Angeles.
Pegasus sparked my interest in
music, and I am forever grateful, Nate
says. Mr. Hartvell taught us theory,
but more importantly, he told us to be
ourselves and have our own individual
styles.
AnJrev agrees. He voulJ tell us
to play a certain song over and over
again anJ to 'leel it.' 'Ieeling' music is a
different level of musicianship and he
truly taught this vell.
Mr. Hartvell aJJs that the lanJ
members support one another in the
learning process, developing a keen sense
ol communication. The enJ result may
not be perfect, he says, but thats the
lile ol a miJJle school stuJent. It's more
alout vhat you Jo vhen it's not perlect.
Vhen these kiJs get on stage, that's
their bnal (exam) in a lot ol vays. They
learn how to make mistakes, but they
also have to make aJjustments
vhen there are mistakes..
Theres a lot of nonverbal
communication going on.
The band welcomed a
new member this year when
Michael McDermott 14
translerreJ to Pegasus. The
seventh grader came with
plenty of music experience
the many instruments he plays
include ukulele, bass, guitar,
drums, and keyboard, and
he also singsand he was
thrilleJ to bnJ out alout the
lanJ.
Vhen I got here anJ
bgureJ out there vas a lanJ
for music elective it made me
really happy to be at Pegasus,
Michael says. I alreaJy knev Pegasus
was a really good school for education,
lut I JiJn't realite there vere a lot ol
other lun things.
Villiamson notes that vhat a miJJle
school student considers a fun thing
can vary lrom stuJent to stuJent. The
lanJ gives a unique group ol stuJents
the chance to Jo something they enjoy
while developing the skills Pegasus so
values. Not only Joes (the lanJ) instill
conbJence, lut it Joes so in a Jillerent
group ol stuJents, Villiamson says.
Olten the stuJents in lanJ aren't
the student council president or the
quarterlack. They may not shine in other
areas.
But shine they do on stage, in front
of several hundred enthusiastic groupies,
incluJing at least one very uncool mom.
Nancy Gelston Fries is a freelance writer and the mother
of Ian (10) and Eric (14). Contact nancyfries@cox.net