Musicians and singers alike at HB Woodlawn will be greeted with a pleasant
surprise upon their return to school this September. A brand new music wing has
been added, and members of the music department and staff couldn’t be more
pleased.
"We’ve been operating for about six years with a very successful music program
crammed into a very small space," said Principal Frank Haltiwanger. "We’re
thrilled to have the new space."
The entire process of bringing about this new addition took several years.
MEMBERS OF the faculty had to petition the school board and demonstrate the
necessity of a bigger space. Over the course of a year, the school board
approved the request. Then began the year-long process of working with
committees and architects to plan the layout of the wing.
Whereas in the past, music classes, choir, and band practices were housed in two
small classrooms that fit 30 to 35 students each, the sizeable new wing now
provides two large rehearsal rooms, one medium-sized rehearsal room, four small
practice rooms (for one to two students each), two offices, a storage space, and
two music libraries.
In addition to the increase in space, the renovations go one step further in
establishing sophisticated music technology and programs, said Fine Arts
Department Chair Jeff Benson.
"Obviously, the biggest change is the size," said Benson. "But also we now have
state-of-the-art facilities, with a sound-proof music space ... It’s now made
for music teaching, as opposed to the math and science classrooms."
Students involved with the music department will no doubt appreciate all that
the new facilities have to offer. Rising senior Jordan Bloom, who plays the
violin in the HB Woodlawn orchestra, as well as the bagpipes, guitar, and
mandolin in his free time, certainly recognizes the importance of having ample
storage space for instruments.
"It’s been called for … for a long time. The instruments won’t get damaged in
the small cramped room anymore," said Bloom, a six-year veteran of the orchestra
program. "It was no one’s fault, of course, but now we have the space we need."
Indeed, aspiring musical artists at HB Woodlawn now have the opportunity to hone
their skills.
Benson, who has been at HB for seven years now and is also the choral director,
sums it up neatly, by saying, "The greatest thing is now we have a suitable
teaching space for the kids to get the most out of their music experience. We’re
obviously really, really excited."