Disney Disappearance

Many Hercules High School students in the band and orchestras were excused from class to take buses to Anaheim performed at the Instrumental Soundtrack Recording Session in Disneyland on March 16, 2017, and were excused from class to take buses to Anaheim.

Numerous members of music teacher Anthony West’s band and orchestras went on the trip, learning what it is like to work in the recording business for films with a guest conductor.

“It was a good experience to be able to read new music and have the guest conductor to help us improve,” said ninth grade cellist Isaac Lin.

They gathered at about 2:30 p.m., and played as many songs as they could from movies owned by Disney. Given a small timeframe, they rehearsed the pieces and recorded them. The recording was then played while the students watched where it belonged in an excerpt from the films, allowing them to see the fruit of their labors.

According to ninth grade violinist Megan Saefong, “It made me realize how much we can improve as musicians in such a short amount of time.”

The trip has been planned for a long time, with preparations beginning at the start of the year. Students had to raise over $400 to pay for various expenses. Some got the money through a fundraiser by Popcorn Palace, while the rest was paid out of pocket.

Not every student attended, but there was a sharp influx in absentees between March 15 and 16, leaving a great deal of classes emptier than usual. The musicians in Anaheim still had to catch up with the work being done back at Hercules.

The trip was viewed very positively by the participants, who want to go again in the future. At the moment, West is considering bringing the choir next year over the band and the orchestras.

According to West, “It was nice to go to Disneyland with my students because, you know, it isn’t my ordinary lesson plan or something, but something unique and enjoyable that they learn from.”

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