Director breathes new life in to Louise band program
Louise band director breathes life into small, struggling band program
Above: Louise band director Scott Reeves explains the shortness of notes in a musical piece during practice. Reeve started the year with less than a dozen high school kids; the band has since grown to 25 members. Below, Matthew Holder, left, and Caleb Wehmeyer, right, practice with Reeves.
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WHO IS SCOTT REEVES?
He taught in Sweeny and Danbury for 13 years before becoming a nurse in Victoria in 2002.
As a nurse, Reeves hired, trained and managed nursing staff all over Texas.
Managing other nurses, he realized ...
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WHO IS SCOTT REEVES?
He taught in Sweeny and Danbury for 13 years before becoming a nurse in Victoria in 2002.
As a nurse, Reeves hired, trained and managed nursing staff all over Texas.
Managing other nurses, he realized he missed teaching.
In spring, he called the Louise school district, expecting the band director position was filled.
After getting the job, he brought band membership from eight students to 25 students.
Reeves is the band director for the entire Louise district.
Reeves plays with the band during half time performances.
Superintendent Andy Peters describes Reeves as "one of those teachers you're always going to remember. I hope he's here a long time."
LOUISE - In a sense, Louise High School band director Scott Reeves has saved the band program.
Only a handful of students had registered for the high school band in summer. The program had been threatened to be shutdown.
Band there didn't seem to be cool anymore.
"When I first got here in the summer, there were only eight kids signed up for high school band, and there was some talk about possibly doing away with the program," said Reeves, who teaches band to both high school and middle school students. "When the superintendent interviewed me, he said that somebody would have to come in here and make some changes."
After last year's band director announced he was leaving, Superintendent Andy Peters began searching for a new band director in March. A few months had gone by with bad luck. Peters was getting nervous.
Reeves, who left music teaching to be a nurse for the past seven years, saw the job was still posted in April or May, he said.
"I thought it's probably been filled," he said. "Jobs don't stay open that long. I called and the superintendent and I really hit it off. I think we both knew right away that this was going to be a good fit. "
Once hired, Reeves set out to revive the program. He met with the eight students at Pizza Hut in the summer and brainstormed with them on new ideas.
"We all sat around the table," Reeves said. "Most of them were kind of quiet at first. They didn't know what to expect. I told them some of my ideas and they jumped on board. We started coming up with half time show ideas."
Now the Louise band membership has climbed to 25 members.
Last year's discouraged students like Caleb Wehmeyer, 14, re-signed up.
"He was miserable last year," said Caleb's mom, Laura McGrew. "Caleb hung around in the back of the room. Mr. Reeves never demanded anything from him. He let him come back around."
Reeves also recruits anyone interested in music, even if they are inexperienced, or can only rehearse after school.
"Mr. Reeves involves any kid," Peters said. "He'll take anybody that's willing to try."
Instead of a tuba player, the band uses a bass guitarist. Instead of a full percussion section, the band uses a drummer.
So far, Reeves has implemented changes based on his students' ideas.
Instead of their former military-style uniforms, the band wears blue button-down shirts, Blues Brother-style sunglasses and fedora hats.
Rachel Menefee, the band's baton twirler, prefers the new uniforms.
"He told us about the uniform idea that he had," Rachel said. "The old uniforms didn't express us. This is more casual, and we are a casual type of people."
The band will not enter any competitions this year, except for UIL solo and ensemble, Reeves said.
The band may compete against other schools next year, once it grows and solidifies, Reeves said.
Being such a small band, they don't march, but they are able to perform as a jazz ensemble on the football field and change up their half-time songs every two to three weeks.
One recent performance was all about water. The band played songs such as "Rubber Duckie," "Splish Splash," along with spraying water guns for rain, a high kick routine, and threw rubber ducks into the crowd.
Another performance was all about cowboys. The band played songs of Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson, had sixth graders dressed in baby diapers, did cowboy stick races and more.
Then word got out to the Rice University Marching Owl Band about the Hornet band's similarly unique performance style. Rice called Reeves and asked if they could perform at a Louise football game in October.
A few weeks later, Rice invited the Louise band to play at a college home game.
The ever-changing performances keep Peters surprised at what the next Friday will bring. At every home game, Peters introduces the band will "perform in spectacular 3-D."
"Mr. Reeves writes the script for me to announce from the press box," the superintendent said. "I never know what I'm going to get until Friday afternoon. I'm just as surprised as anybody."
Cherri Lurker's daughter, Corrine, has enjoyed Louise's program this year.
"My daughter's just really happy to be there," Lurker said. "She's actually thinking now of joining the band in college."
Now that Reeves is back teaching music, he plans to stick around for a while, he said.
"I had left the world of music twice, and I won't leave it again."
