Lia Morgan brings music to school

When band teacher Lia Morgan arrived in Sisters in August, she had only eight students registered for high school band. But that didn't stop this third-year teacher from showing her enthusiasm. She set out to build the program and enlist more kids. With a "nothing-to-lose" attitude, she switched the concert band to zero period at 7 a.m., hoping that students with class conflicts during the day would enroll. On the first day, 19 kids showed up. Currently, enrollment is at 25 and she's hoping more students will take the class next semester.

"The nice thing about concert band in the morning, although it's challenging because it's a shortened period, is that anyone can join," Morgan said. "All they have to do is set their alarms and wake up."

To spread her enthusiasm for music, Morgan has opened the band to students who have never played an instrument as well as previous band students. Morgan, a clarinet player, has given lessons to freshmen Jackson Morgan (not related) and Cody Martin. Jackson had never played and Cody last played in seventh grade.

"They are both doing fantastic," she said. "Any person in the entire school, if they want to join band, I tell them 'Great, if you don't know an instrument, I'll teach you.' So far it's been really successful."

She and her current band students are hosting an ice cream social on Thursday, November 15, at 3:30 p.m. All high school students and graduates who have ever played in the band are invited to bring their instruments to play music together and enjoy dessert. She's hoping the kids who still love music will see what the band is all about and add it to their schedules.

As a freshman in high school, Morgan knew she loved music and wanted to pursue music as a career. She traveled 40 miles one-way to Helena, Montana, to attend high school because of the strong music program there. Morgan went on to earn music education and music performance degrees from the University of Oregon and a master's degree from Portland State.

"The teacher I had my last two years (in high school) is why I became a teacher. I want to be that person for my kids," she said.

Her first teaching job was at a high school in Belfair, Washington, where she led band, choir, and guitar classes and co-taught drama. While at the school, Morgan added instruction in jazz band, marching band and percussion ensemble. Last spring she and 23 other teachers from Washington State were honored as "Teacher of the Week." Each school represented received $500, and teachers were invited to watch a Seattle Mariners game in the box-seat section.

"In two years, I was able to develop myself as a teacher. But I'm really excited to be able to do my forte, which is band-specific," she said of moving to Sisters. "A bonus to this job is getting to teach band 24/7 and getting to teach from the bottom to the top." Morgan is instructing fifth graders on their first instruments.

"She's awesome and one of my favorite teachers," Jackson Morgan said.

The 26-year-old is so excited about her job that she even scheduled a dress rehearsal for the concert and jazz bands on her birthday, November 26. The bands' first concert is Tuesday, November 27, at 7 p.m. at the high school.

Morgan's goal is to give band students a well-rounded experience with music, she said. That's one reason why she required students to play in the pep band at the four home football games.

"I was really proud of their work ethic and what they accomplished," she said, adding that the music the students played at the games was new except for the school fight song. In addition to pep band, the kids learned to play in a marching band. They memorized two songs, and percussionists learned a drum cadence.

They showed-off their talents during the homecoming parade.

"I think they really made a statement to the community that we are doing new, fun things," Morgan said.

Adding to the fun will be a performance by the jazz band at the Black Butte Ranch Homeowners Christmas dinner in December. The new year will bring more fun with a fundraising event featuring the jazz band and art students, jazz band trips to the Oregon Jazz and Pleasant Hill jazz festivals, and preparation for regional solo and ensemble contests.

"Mrs. Morgan has a lot of great expectations for the band," said sophomore Seth Roy. "Under her guidance, the band is going to be able to do a lot of great things."