North Cedar sixth graders happy to be 'Band Geeks'

Pavin Esbaum waves his conductor baton in time with the music. His arm bobs and weaves, ending in a flourish a few seconds later.

“OK,” Pavin says after the music stops. “This can go for anyone. Every time you have an unusual note, make it stick out.”

He plays a note on the trumpet to emphasize his point. A few heads nod in understanding.

“Let's try again,” Pavin says, picking up the baton.

It looks like a regular band rehearsal, but it isn't. For one thing, Pavin isn't a band teacher - he's a North Cedar Middle School sixth-grader.

The students he's directing are sixth-graders, too.

“Sometimes they listen to me and sometimes they're like ‘OK, you're a kid just like us,'” Pavin, 11, said with a grin. “It depends on the day.”

Today's rehearsal is uneventful. The students file into the band room before the bell rings. They tune their instruments as Pavin writes their agenda on the whiteboard. Rehearsal is under way a few minutes later.

“They are the perfect mix of students and instruments for something like this,” Trina McPeake, North Cedar's middle school band director, said.

This is the eighth period study hall band - The Band Geeks.

Comprised of 12 sixth-graders, nearly half of the entire sixth grade band, The Band Geeks started as extra rehearsal time for the students, who have study hall together. They received permission to spend their study hall period in the band room, rehearsing.

“It was more fun than study hall,” said Seamus Raney, 11.

“We just thought we'd practice together - nothing more,” said Makayla Schluter, 11.

No one lost interest as the school year progressed. If anything, the students wanted to practice even more. Some talked about forming their own band. McPeake gave them new music to rehearse and Pavin volunteered as conductor.

“We were all here because we all like band, and we just made our own group,” said Brady Lehrman, 11.

“I think it's kind of an honor because I don't think other schools would let students do something like this,” Percussionist Darian Gray, 11, added.

Not only do The Band Geeks have the school's support, they will perform at the middle school band concert on Nov. 29. McPeake and a few other teachers will join the band as performers, rounding out the instruments.

Pavin will conduct two pieces -- “Shark Attack” and “Let's Go Band.”

“It goes beyond playing music,” Principal Mark Glover said of the students' dedication. “These kids are working together, learning from each other - it's impressive.”

The students even visited McPeake's alma mater, Wartburg College, last month to run a rehearsal with college music education students.

“Fifteen years of teaching and I've never experienced something like this,” McPeake said.

McPeake said The Band Geeks have inspired other band students to spend study hall in the band room. Some have expressed interest in forming their own bands.

There's even talk of a battle of the study hall bands at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, The Band Geeks plan to take their show on the road next semester. McPeake said the band will perform at nursing homes and elementary schools.

“It's just really fun to play in a smaller band,” Makayla said.