12/28/2024
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CLANhJPDD/
A few years ago, Kelly Truby made a promise to her 5th-grade students: If every single one of them joined the band that year, she would also sign up and learn to play a new musical instrument. The students took her up on the challenge, and Kelly spent the year learning the trumpet.
The next year, she offered the same deal and learned the French horn. In year three, it was the clarinet. Next came the euphonium, then the trombone.
Now, after several years, Kelly has learned so many instruments that she's started circling back. Despite not considering herself musically gifted, Kelly has embraced the challenge year after year.
“I give it my best effort,” she says. “I’m always in there with the beginners, doing my best. One year they even had me try the flute, but I couldn’t get any sound out of it!”
Kelly’s motivation goes beyond just learning new instruments.
“Music fires all parts of the brain,” she explains. “The reason I do this is because if 5th graders aren’t given the opportunity to play, they may never discover the gifts God has given them. If joining the band myself and learning an instrument encourages them to find out what gifts they’ve been given, that’s all right by me.”
Steve Smith, Trinity’s new 5th-grade teacher, has joined Kelly in issuing the same challenge to students – with the same result of 100% participation. While Kelly might not have a natural musical talent, Steve is a seasoned musician with experience on the clarinet, trumpet, and piano.
This year, one student was adamant about not joining the band. But with a little positive peer pressure, he came around—and now he’s playing two instruments and even taking private lessons.
“He’s wired for it,” Kelly says with a smile.
As for Kelly’s favorite instrument?
"The trumpet," she says. "It only has three buttons!"
