MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII --
The U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Band hosted students
from Iolani School Oct. 30, 2014 at the band hall. The event was proposed to
promote public relations and music education in the community.
After watching the MARFORPAC marching and rock bands
perform outside, the students went into the hall and split into sections based
on their instruments, where Marines worked with individual students. The
Marines helped the students work on their concert music, after which, the band
sections came together for a full-band rehearsal.
Staff Sgt. Jerry Williams, the band’s action officer for
the event, said that multiple military bands participate in such events, but
this past event was slightly different.
“Last week was special because we usually travel to
conduct these events,” Williams said. “In this case, they (had) the opportunity
to see how we operate in our environment.”
Williams said he enjoyed visiting the various sections
while they rehearsed and watching his Marines in action.
“I love seeing them engaging and imparting their
knowledge to the next generation of musicians,” Williams said. “I believe that
(the Marines) do (enjoy their time with the kids), because it’s very gratifying
to (pass on) knowledge and to see and hear an immediate improvement in a young
person’s musicianship.”
Lynn Muramaru, the beginning and intermediate-level
concert band teacher at Iolani said that it’s nice for the students to learn
from another source.
“Some of the students have the chance to get one-on-one
instruction because the band members seem to enjoy having the chance to work
with the students,” Muramaru said.
She said every one of her students appreciated the band’s
mentorship.
“For most of these kids, this is their first experience,
so everything is such a treat for them,” Muramaru said. “One student even asked
me if we could do this every day because it was so great. They really roll out
the red carpet for us and treat us so well. The Marines enjoy working with the
students and I know it’s good for them to practice their teaching skills.”
Muramaru also said this is a great way for students to
learn from more experienced musicians.
On the bus ride back, everyone was bubbling with
conversation about the event,” Muramaru said. “The students came to class the
next day still (excited) from having such a positive experience. They learned a
lot and demonstrated their skills in rehearsal.”
Shane Severino, a flute player with the Iolani School
band, said the Marines were really helpful when it came to learning more about
their instruments.
“(The Marines) helped me with my technique and finger
positioning,” Severino said. “They helped with things that would make playing
an instrument easier or make it sound better. For example, I asked them how to
practice vibrato – which is when you pulse the note’s sound – and they gave me
an exercise I could do that would eventually help develop that technique.”
Severino said he would recommend that other music
students also visit the band.
“We were able to ask the Marines questions and get a lot
of help from them,” Severino said. “We got to learn from people who are
experienced at playing their instrument and we also got to hear them as a whole
– we saw what we could become if we worked hard enough.”