Posted by By Wren Willow MacDonald
Change is hard for everyone–sometimes we lose our sense of security as our world continues to shift and progress. For the New Paltz High School Band, students are learning that change can be good, even if things are different. Easy going, flexible, and open to student insight, new band teacher, Mr. Brandon Sparkman, is twice grammy-nominated, multitalented, and determined to make the adjustment of having a new teacher as smooth and comfortable as possible for students in the NPHS Band.
“My goal is to make this transition as easy as possible for you all, my band teacher when I was in high school, he left suddenly midway through the year… the new teacher came in. He was a great guy, but you know? You had this band teacher, you worked with him for years, you had an attachment to them; and it’s tough when you have somebody else,” Sparkman said.
Mr. Sparkman’s consideration and empathy have been noticed and felt by members across the band. A student in the band stated, “I think [the change in teachers] has really affected everybody, but Mr. Sparkman has been great.”
Mr. Sparkman’s teaching style has also been widely embraced by the students in the NPHS Band.
“I really feel like band with Mr. Sparkman has been more democratic than I expected it to be; he’s been really open to our ideas and suggestions,” said another member of the band.
Mr. Sparkman has been having to make adjustments of his own as well. As a former elementary school teacher, high schoolers are a whole different species.
“This is beyond whatever expectations I had for 4th graders,” he says, explaining that teaching high school and elementary bands are very different–there’s a difference in skill and attention spans. “I love the little kids. They are fun to talk to and all that. But there’s only so much ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ that I can take. YSo I was really excited to be able to work at this higher level,” Mr. Sparkman said.
Surprisingly, his love for music was not instant.
“Well, the funny story is when I was a kid… My older sister loved [music]. I’m like, ‘I’m going to be anti-my sister. Music Sucks!’… I hated music. But when I was in ninth grade, something hit and I was like, I don’t know what I can do with my life. I started liking saxophone, so I guess I’m just gonna become a music teacher, kind of nonchalant… As I got older and played more and took it seriously, it really resonated with me.” – Mr. Sparkman
Now, Mr. Sparkman plays saxophone at gigs outside of work.
“It’s like a dream come true that I get to do the thing I love all day, you know? It does mean that usually when I drive home, I drive home in silence. I need a break,” Mr. Sparkman said.
When he’s not playing or teaching, Mr. Sparkman plays disc-golf, watches football, involves himself with musical theater, and spends time with his cat Gaia.
Things in New Paltz are changing, but the future of the NPHS Band looks bright thanks to Mr. Sparkman.
The Maroon 