"What is that I hear coming from the Music/Art Room? Is that Star Wars?" That had been the question coming from our kids playing on the Green Top during the 8 a.m. hour. Yes, the Band Program members are working diligently in preparation to perform a medley of the most memorable musical selections from the Star Wars cinematic saga at the Spring Concert. Throughout the school year, whether or not rehearsing outdoors or indoors, Band and String Ensemble members have grown to learn that to perform an epic arrangement requires extraordinary concentration, teamwork, patience, tracking eyes, awareness of what their friends are playing, as well as arm hand and finger control. In addition, the wind instrument players have been developing control of the intercostal muscle system which regulates the pushing of air out of the lungs, the embouchure (mouth muscles) which must be held firm while the tongue is used as a valve to control the strong airflow to their instruments while the tongue is also used to articulate each separate note that they play. Too technical? Band and Strings members don't seem to think so because at each rehearsal they enthusiastically work at coordinating all of these skills as they build familiarity with their music. The String Ensemble's marque piece is "Tonight," from the Broadway musical Westside Story. See you at the concert!