Troy music program continues to grow under director Hand

When Sheri Hand took over the music program for Troy Public Schools around six years ago, she was following after the performance of long-time educator Ty Nagode, and faced the challenge of a music program that had flagged in the years since his retirement.

W.F. Morrison Principal Diane Rewerts said that Troy has always embraced the arts as a community, and the schools enjoyed a strong program under Nagode.

“It was really hard to find a teacher that could keep that going, and the program was really weak until Sheri took it over,” Rewerts said. “And every year I’ve just watched that band improve, and the participation’s grown.”

Though Troy has fewer than 400 students, being the music teacher for all of them is still no small task. From working 20 minutes a week with the preschoolers to daily classes with the junior high and high school bands and choir, Hand has eleven different groups of students she instructs at varying times throughout the week.

Much of the preparation has to be done on her free time, Hand said. Her hour prep period simply isn’t enough to keep up.

Yet, it’s not a job she is trying to make any easier on herself.

Since she started, the high school band has nearly doubled from nine to 17 students, she said. She has over 75 percent of the 5th and 6th grade classes in band, and about half of the junior high class is in band.

“So, it is growing bigger and bigger, and I predict my high school band being a lot bigger next year too,” she said.

Rewerts said she is pleased to see the participation levels at Troy Schools in the music program, and credits Hand with growing the program.

“I’m a musician, so I grew up with music and love music,” Rewerts said. “What I love about watching music is that the kids are so engaged when participating in music. They’re learning something new all the time.”

Music helps students in other subject areas, Rewerts said. “I think it teaches kids to think in a whole different way.”

Music helps with brain development, math skills and even language, she said.

Middle/High School Principal and Troy Schools Superintendent Jacob Francom said he sees music playing an important role in developing how to process, think and solve problems.

“She has done an excellent job,” he said of Hand. “It’s amazing to get so many kids involved in band.”

Francom said he is aware of several students who have been inspired to continue with music after high school through Hand’s classes.

Hand said she has tried to build the music program by creating excitement for music among the younger students that they will carry with them as they develop. Yet, she also credits the support within the community for music education.

One challenge in Troy is families that cannot afford to buy their child an instrument, Rewerts said. However, one anonymous donor stepped up to address that challenge, donating $5,000 to buy instruments for the elementary program that students can check out.

And that community support comes from colleagues as well.

Hand said that, with everything else she already has on her plate, it’s not easy to plan and organize field trips such as the one this spring that saw students attending The Sound of Music in Spokane and attending a jazz workshop in Portland. But she had help from Troy Middle/High School Librarian Kay Randall in making the trip a success.

Beyond passion for music, Hand has found another community passion to tap into. A former student athlete, Hand said she participated in both music and sports in high school, and tells her students she sees no reason why one should have to exclude the other.

“I really believe a well-rounded student is involved in sports and music and art and drama — you know, all the extracurricular activities,” she said.