A Band New Year

Having a new teacher in the band room is,  unfortunately, not a new experience for students in the music program. The new band teacher, Jonah Mandel, is the fourth band director since campus reopened after the COVID-19 closures and has replaced the old band director, Claire Tongpalad.

Over the summer, students were informed that Tongpalad would not be returning for the upcoming school year; it was a feeling they all had felt before. The school year began with a long-term substitute filling the role of Band Director, while the district conducted interviews and background checks to place a new teacher. When Mandel was selected as the new director, both he and the students knew there would be an adjustment period. But When Mandel was announced as the new band teacher, the students and himself knew it would be an adjustment, but Mandel was determined to end the revolving door of Music teachers in the band program.

The moment Mandel came into the band room, he got himself and his students to clean and organize the room. He wanted him and his students to have a fresh, new clean start to the year to be able to accomplish his goals for them.

“I just want to give these kids the opportunities they deserve. Music saved my life in high school and I want to give them the same experience that I had,” Mandel said.

Mandel was in band during his whole high school experience, during that, he struggled with his mental health. Music was an outlet for him and helped him when he was struggling. He wants to be like the teachers he had in his band program back then, and plans on being just that.  

With time, he envisions the program to be better than how it is now. Mandel hopes to get music back on campus more often and play for big sports events like football games and also play at the pep rallies. Mandel also wants to get the guitar class with its own teacher who focuses more on just guitar. He plans on getting new instruments and playing for middle school kids to hopefully encourage them to join band class and build the music program up. 

Having three new band teachers in the span of four years, the students have lost a sense of stability. With the help of Mandel and the students they hope that they will be able to grow the program up and have band classes more known out there, as well as keeping the stability to    help the students thrive. He has a lot of plans for this year and the future, and for him the sky is the limit.