KJH band plays at the Magic Kingdom

Published 9:00 am Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Space Mountain may be faster, Fantasmic may be louder and Tinkerbell may be perkier (barely), but nothing Disneyland has to offer is sweeter than the sound of the Kingston Junior High Cavalier Marching Corps.

Sunday, May 7 was the happiest day on Earth in the happiest place on Earth for 160 KJH band and drill team members who became part of the magic, preceding Disney’s Parade of Dreams down Main Street, U.S.A. Hand-picked for the honor, the Cavaliers heralded one of the park’s 50th anniversary parades with a lively mix of traditional and modern tunes, from a Sousa march to “Louie, Louie” and the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.”

“The kids really rose to the occasion,” said Cavalier band director, Jeffrey Haag, “and not just during the performance, but throughout the entire three-day trip. When we’re in public, we’re in a fishbowl; people judge us continually. We were complimented several times on how well-behaved these kids are for junior high students.”

In addition to the eight-minute parade, the band performed at a clinic on a real Disney sound stage while drill team members headed over to Academy Dance to work with a professional choreographer. For the band members the experience provided a glimpse into the world of working musicians, complete with live mikes and a challenging score. By the end of the session the students had recorded several audio tracks including an accompaniment to a scene from “Fantasia.”

Equally important to the students’ education, said Haag, is the learning experience of travel, responsibility and – yes – fun.

“Some students had never flown before; some had never been away from home,” Haag pointed out. “What a great opportunity for them to be with their friends in a place like Disneyland.”

Chaperone and parent Denise Roundy agreed: “I saw children who are normally very quiet and shy, totally come out of their shell. It was a growing experience. I would chaperone again – and I probably will,” laughed the mother of five.

The students discovered that Disney brings out the inner child in adults as well as kids; while they challenged themselves to see how many consecutive rides of California Screamin’ they could endure and how many teenagers can fit into one hotel hot tub, Haag – known for his no-nonsense teaching style – shocked his students by donning a Goofy hat.

“A trip like this, you let down your hair a little bit,” smiled Haag. “It also surprised the kids that I randomly interviewed them on video. It’s important to record the culture of the students; that’s how relationships are built.” These memories will become part of a commemorative compact disc being compiled for the students and their parents.

Of course, a trip such as this requires months of preparation. For nearly a year the KJH Band Boosters, a dedicated group of band parents, organized the odyssey. To all the hard-working volunteers, Haag extends his sincere appreciation.

“I’d also like to thank the North Kitsap community for their support,” added Haag. “One company, Hill Moving, even donated their time and trucks to drive our luggage and instruments all the way to California and back.”

So what’s next for the traveling Cavaliers? In addition to appearances in May’s Armed Forces Day and Viking Fest Parades, the marching band and drill team are scheduled to perform in this year’s Kingston Fourth of July parade.

“They really make the community proud,” stated Haag. “Disneyland was such a unique opportunity. They learned something and had a good time.”