While most WCHS students are bundling up in extra layers due to the recent frigid temperatures and windy and snowy weather, some are wearing summertime clothing and enjoying warm tropical weather.
On Jan. 16, WCHS orchestra, band and chorus students boarded a charter bus to embark on their journey to Disney World in Orlando, Fla. There they experienced the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, participating in the “You’re Instrumental” workshop at the Imagination Campus, where they worked with professional studio musicians. Every student was also equipped with Disney Park Hopper Passes, so they could make the most of their time there by enjoying the theme park attractions.
“For the first hour of the workshop, we did sight-reading to Disney songs like from the movie ‘The Little Mermaid’ and the song ‘The Imperial March’ from the Star Wars series,” WCHS senior Iris Ou said. “Then, we recorded [us playing], listened to it back, received tips on sight reading better and applied them.”
Sight-reading music is the act of reading and performing a musical piece without having seen or learned it before. It is an essential skill for students pursuing music, whether professionally or as a hobby, as there are many situations where they will have to learn pieces in short periods of time. Unbeknownst to them, their hour of sight-reading practice was foreshadowing and preparing them to excel in their mini-performance.
“We did a more focused review on the song ‘How Far I’ll Go’ from the ‘Moana’ movie,” Ou said. “We wore a headset to record it, and there was an editor who merged our recording with the animations from the movie along with our addition of some fun and fitting sound effects. It was like a little movie to take home with us and gave us a taste of what this musical career entails.”
From watching and listening to Disney movies in admiration and growing up to having the chance to experience the behind-the-scenes work of producing the films was beyond a dream come true for many. The WCHS chorus ensembles took part in something similar during their workshop.
“We recorded us singing the song ‘Love is an Open Door’ from the movie ‘Frozen,’” WCHS junior Saami Yousufi said. “We also added our version of sound effects, like the sound of a horse and the speaking lines.”
Aside from the excitement and fun exuded, it was an eye-opening experience for many, making them realize and appreciate all that has to be done to bring an instant smile to everyone’s faces.
“Our conductor, Allen Gray, helped write the Disney music we were playing and stressed how much time and dedication goes into shows,” Ou said. “I did not realize how hard work it actually is as he emphasized how synchronized the musicians have to be and how they have spent over one million on just the firework shows.”
After all, Disney World is renowned as the happiest place on earth, so the field trip organizers allocated plenty of time for students to savor each moment there, living as if no test or assignment was due tomorrow, just for the time being.
“How we spend our time at the park before and after our workshop is up to us,” Ou said. “On our first day there, me and my friends went to Epcot and rode on rides like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Soarin’ and visited all the ‘countries,’ eating at an all-you-can-eat buffet in the Germany Pavilion. We visited the remaining parks over the next couple of days, continuing to ride on more rides like Avatar Flight of Passage, Space Mountain, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, as well as indulging in Disney sweets like Dole Whip and enjoying the Fantasmic show and fireworks.”
As all things are, there will ultimately be an end to every good and bad moment. However, the students on this trip did not come home empty-handed, as they created new core memories that will remain with them for a lifetime.
“I advise future orchestra members going on this trip to stay hydrated because it is exhausting and to plan out their days ahead through the app, but it is most important to have fun,” Ou said.
