GRHS band brings joy through music

Students at Green River High School are often involved in a number of activities, from sports to speech and debate to theater. But one of the main activities is sometimes overlooked - often because they're supporting other events from the sidelines. But that's one of the main parts of their job.

"Typically, our biggest goal when we play at sporting events and everything is to support the team, support everyone else who's there, and support the Wolves, because that's the whole point," Quinn Kalinski, the GRHS band director, explained.

The high school band may not be the main focus at a football or basketball game, but when they're not there, the absence is felt.

"We did have that when we were in the heart of the COVID quarantine," Kalinski said, explaining the band wasn't able to play at events like normal when schools were under strict restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and "it was noticed."

Experiencing what games are like without the support of the band made people appreciate how important their contribution is.

"It was a big shift," Kalinski said of not being able to play. "And then the next year, last year, when we came back and it was full swing, it was a lot of fun."

Kalinski, who's been at GRHS for five years now, said he could feel a difference once the band was able to get back to playing like normal again.

"We've been getting a lot more great attention and feedback from the community," he said, adding that athletes and coaches often thank the band members for their support.

It's also not just about the band, Kalinski pointed out, since the dance and cheer teams and the student section all work together to create a fun environment during games.

"We've realized it's working better when everything and all those groups align and start really creating a culture at Green River High School," Kalinski said.

While the band helps support other students, it also offers the students in it their own activity that requires as much dedication as any other.

"This takes time and commitment, just like everything else," Kalinski said. "Sometimes people might not realize how much time goes into it."

Kalinski compared band to other programs at the school like the CTE program or culinary arts, noting it is also a skill-based activity, falling under the performing arts category along with theater and choir.

"We're lucky enough to have it as a class," he said.

While part of student's class schedule, band still takes a lot of work outside of the classroom as well, and the dedication of the students can be seen in the quality of their performances.

Leading the band every year is its own challenge for Kalinski, especially since he has a different group of students each time. Typically the band graduates about 12 to 15 seniors a year and gets about 15 incoming freshmen, Kalinski explained.

"Every year the biggest challenge is probably creating culture and figuring out how that group is going to work as a functioning...organism," he said. "It kind of works like a heart or just like any other organ. Every part has to work together for it to function properly."

While he tries to focus on the social aspect of band, Kalinski usually doesn't have too much trouble with the students getting along.

"It doesn't take long for the whole band to get together, get along and start creating a group," he said. "So that's always fun to watch."

Creating challenges for the students is also something Kalinski tries to focus on, especially through picking out music that's an appropriate level of difficulty for them. He knows by giving them challenges to face head-on, he can watch them grow and do things they initially didn't think they could.

"Once they get that success later, man, it's cool to watch them do it," he said. "They light up once that lightbulb moment comes and they really feel like they got it or they feel like they know they've gotten better. That's the best part of the year, is when they walk off and they know they did good and they performed the very best they could."

As the band continues to play, Kalinski hopes it continues to be a safe and enjoyable opportunity for students and a source of fun for the school and the community.

"Our biggest goal in the future is to continue to just make a big impact at Green River High School and continue to bring some joy to people's day with music," Kalinski said. "And have the kids have fun playing it. If the kids aren't having fun, then we're doing it wrong."