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By Crystal Reith Fifty-nine Murray County Central band and choir members, along with 11 chaperones, recently traveled to Florida for a musical education experience at Walt Disney World.
Led by head chaperone and director Clayton Hartle, the trip took place June 13-19 and was designed to help students enhance their musicality and sharpen their musical skills while gaining insight into careers in the music industry.
“The purpose of this experience was to grow students’ musical knowledge and abilities,” said Hartle, “I also hope that students may have seen possible future job options in the field of music.”
A highlight of the trip was participating in Disney Performing Arts workshops, where students worked alongside Disney professionals in a hands-on recording studio environment. During the sessions, students learned how music is created and produced for film and entertainment. They were challenged to apply musical skills they have developed in school while experiencing the professional expectations of the entertainment industry.
Students worked together to create and record a musical soundtrack, giving them a behind-the-scenes look at the creative and technical processes involved in producing music for movies. The workshop allowed participants to experience a side of music that extends beyond live performance and introduced them to career paths such as music production, sound engineering and entertainment performance.
As part of the experience, choir students performed two songs from Disney’s “Tangled,” “I’ve Got a Dream” and “I See the Light.” Band students performed “How Far I’ll Go” and “We Know the Way” from Disney’s “Moana.” The performances were incorporated into the workshop experience, allowing students to hear and evaluate their work in a professional setting.
Beyond the musical instruction and performances, the trip also gave students the chance to create lasting memories while learning from industry professionals. As a former participant in a previous MCC band and choir trip, Hartle encourages all students to take advantage of similar opportunities in the future.
“Make the best of the trips, apply yourself in the lessons and have fun,” he said.
Outside of the workshops, students had the opportunity to explore several Disney parks, including Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The parks provided additional educational experiences through live entertainment, technology, storytelling and cultural exhibits. The group also had the opportunity to enjoy and explore Clearwater Beach during the trip.
Hartle said experiences such as the Disney workshops are especially valuable for students from rural communities because they expose them to opportunities they may not otherwise encounter.
“In our area, many students don’t realize that there may be more opportunities in music than what our school can offer,” Hartle said. “I would just like to thank all of the chaperones that made the trip possible.”
