Noticing a decline for music appreciation, band teacher Joseph Updegraff is making moves to replenish the band program. A grant from the Stagg Alumni Association helped kickstart his project that lures students to participate in the program. Noticing a decline for music appreciation, band teacher Joseph Updegraff is making moves to replenish the band program. A grant from the Stagg Alumni Association helped kickstart his project that lures students to participate in the program.

When Updegraff was attending CSU Fresno, he privately tutored students at Madison and Kohl Elementary during weekends. He wanted to make a couple extra dollars, as well as practice his music skill. Recalling this distant memory Updegraff decided to start a band tutoring program.

Needing more manpower, Updegraff invited University of the Pacific music majors to help. Flute player and junior Kristal Garibay goes every Thursday to practice. “The lessons are intimate and focus more on the flute than anything else,” Garibay said. “With lessons every week I have more time to practice what I have learned that day.”

Updegraff hopes to draw more attention to the music program. “I had a choice. I could have bought an instrument or create a long-term program,” Updegraff said. He wants to see an advancing band program.

Senior Marco Luna wishes the program had been available for him in previous years. “If I was a freshman, having these lessons would truly progress my skills,” he said. Luna sacrifices an hour to get his lessons for bass clarinet.  Luna takes the lessons to focus on his breathing techniques. “I played the music piece once and I messed up. Then I thought about what the tutor said and when I played it again, it was perfect,” he said.

“Instead of affecting one student we could be affecting 25 students,” Updegraff said. The program is setup to have inexpensive, reliable lessons that are paid for by the donation. “It’s set up for the next year’s students,” he said.

The students have taught others what they learned. “It’s tips and tricks that we probably wouldn’t be taught without professional help,” junior Jasmine Khan said. With multiple sets of tutors the, band program shows great promise.