Choir teacher Aimee Ware takes on the band to share her passions with more students

Previously known as just the choir director, Aimee Ware stepped into the position of band director this school year as she continues to lead more than 40 singers in the choir program she has directed since 2011. Teaching at PRHS for eight years, Ware is excited to be teaching full time this year and comments that it was the right time in her career to make the shift.

Ware has an extensive background in band, herself playing a range of instruments including flute, baritone, trombone, trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone, but she also has experience in all the instruments in the band. Focusing on the flute and studying it throughout college, Ware has performed it in notable places such as Carnegie Hall and Disney Hall.

When Ware had a bad experience with a band director in high school, it inspired her to become a teacher and make sure that her students would build a greater appreciation for music and grow as musicians themselves.

“This year I’ve loved watching hard work pay off. I’ve loved watching the rehearsals and then going to a football game or performance and watching my students go ‘Ohh yeah! This is so much fun!’ Because it is,” Ware said.

The 30 band students typically practice for at least six hours a week before going to put on the crimson uniform to perform in front of the school and football fans on Friday nights. This has created a makeshift family for the students where they can all relate to their common interest in playing music together. Ware continues to be friends with people she met through music and hopes to create the same environment for her students as well.

A lot of factors go into the decision of what type of music the band and choir perform depending on restrictions if it is during a festival, what the audience would like to hear, if it is a themed event, and what the kids want to play or sing. Recent notable performances by the band during the football games have been Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Don’t Stop Me Now

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Ware tries to hone in on each individual student’s strengths and her own as a teacher and take the band to new places to challenge them as musicians.

“Every teacher is different, every teacher has their strengths, every teacher has their weaknesses, every person for that matter so I just say, learn from the past and keep going f

orward,” Ware said.

Ware can be seen at every football game running the band while drum majors, Regan Rowins and Hayley Fuller, also takes charge and directs the flow of the music. The student section is always dancing and singing along with the songs the band plays adding a new sense of comradery to the students of PRHS.

“I enjoy the Friday night football games because it is a performance, but is also just more than that and we are allowed to go crazy and still follow the rules while having so much fun,” Gabriel Olivo said, a freshman who has played trumpet for five years.“Miss Ware is always encouraging and supportive of every one. I have learned so much in her class and always have a lot of fun!” junior advanced choir student, Audrey Dart said.