‘Bringing music back’ — at San Antonio’s Highlands High, band helps students find their feet again after two pandemic years
Now that he has them back in the band hall, he’s able to check in on their mental health and make sure they are eating and sleeping somewhere safe. He also can start to revive their joy of playing, the thing that brought them together in the first place.
Sitting down with Salazar in December, it was difficult to tell if it’s determination, weariness, hope or relief one now hears in Salazar’s voice. Maybe all of those, as he considers what it means to lead a marching band in the middle of a persistent pandemic and an escalating mental health crisis. It’s great to make beautiful music, sure, he said, but the real reason he’s remained in his role is to see students grow as people, as a team. In sharp contrast to the isolation of the pandemic, he said, band is about more than just music — it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself, caring for others and being cared for, and believing in others and being believed in. It’s also about finding a connection with people you might not otherwise spend time with.
Like many, he hoped the pandemic would pass, and kids would be back in formation by marching season. It was not to be, of course. San Antonio ISD brought back only 20 percent of students in September 2020. More and more trickled in throughout the year, but none without scars. The Mighty Owl band practices in the band hall at Highlands High School. The majority of the band is now back at school in person.While Salazar’s expertise uniquely qualifies him to be a band director, he’s just one of many adults who can take the time to listen, encourage, and help connect a kid to the help they need. That’s the part of his job he takes more seriously than making sure the horns are on cue and the winds are in tune.
His compassion and care for the kids is bottomless, it seems, but he’s a true believer in the power of a good routine. Even when the entire band was remote, he conducted regular practice, as a way of creating regularity and normalcy when days, nights, weeks, and months were blending together.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Despite The Student Debt Crisis, High School Seniors Favor High-Cost, High-Amenity Colleges, New Survey FindsAs the May 1 college decision day approaches, most teens worry about costs—but not enough, it seems, to tilt their choices. Parents weren’t surveyed.
Read more »
Ocean Life Projected to Die Off in Mass Extinction If Emissions Remain HighMarine animals could die off at a level rivaling the biggest mass extinctions in geologic history if people don’t curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more »
Report: Draft opinion suggests high court will overturn RoeA draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices suggests that earlier this year a majority of them had thrown support behind overturning the 1973 case Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide.
Read more »
Titans 2022 Draft Grades: High Ceiling, Low Floor - The Draft NetworkTennessee had a total of nine picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. Did they do enough to re-tool their roster to compete in a stacked AFC? JustinM_NFL discusses. FrontOffice33 | TitanUp
Read more »
Report: Draft opinion suggests high court will overturn RoeA draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices suggests that earlier this year a majority of them had thrown support behind overturning the 1973 case Roe v.
Read more »
Report: Draft opinion suggests high court will overturn RoeA draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices suggests that earlier this year a majority of them had thrown support behind overturning the 1973 case Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide.
Read more »