Matt Kleopfer wasn’t sure if practice made perfect Saturday.
But it sure made a lot of money.
Fifty-two Iola High School and Iola Middle School band members spent all day Saturday working on their musical skills during an extended “practice-a-thon,” during which the students earned money through pledges.
The longer the students played, the more money they raised.
The event started at 8 a.m. Saturday on the Allen County Courthouse lawn, and ended with a “sudden death” jam session at 12:30 a.m. Sunday — 16½ hours in all.
Of the original 52 participants, nine made it to the end.
Unofficially, the students earned about $4,800 in pledges, although those numbers may change as others donate to the cause.
Proceeds go to the individual band members to use for such things as trips to clinics or other band-related activities.
The fledgling musicians spiced up their practices with a number of games and activities, Kleopfer said.
They did impromptu marches, created small teams of high-schoolers and middle-schoolers working together, and occasionally tried out new instruments.
The students were granted five-minute breaks every hour, plus meal breaks during the day.
The jam session drew the attention of passersby throughout the day. Several saw the activities and decided to donate on the spot.
As the evening wore on, it became apparent that more than a few were in for the long haul, attempting to break the record of 14 hours set during the band’s inaugural practithon in 2013.
By the time midnight rolled around, Kleopfer decided to set up a sudden death session, in which the last nine die-hards were required to remove their instruments’ neck straps and stand in a marching stance and play with their instruments held in the proper position and angles.
The slightest variation — allowing the instrument to fall out of position, for example — eliminated that band member.
“We were creative and desperate to go home at that point,” laughed Mandy Middleton, mother of eighth-grader Theresia Middleton.
The younger Middleton not only was among the final nine, she also was among the top pledge earners, racking up a combined $26 per hour.
“I had a lot of fun playing my flute and sax all day,” she said. “I got to hang out with my friends and get lots of practice so we can get better and be able do bigger and better things with the band.”
So how do students withstand such a grueling practice session?
“Play at half speed,” she responded. “You do half as much work for twice the time.”
Others who made it to the bitter end were sixth-grader Rain Burleson; seventh-graders Ashton Olsten and Callie Murcko; eighth graders Nissa Fountain, Elysia Kunkler, Trevelle Means and Kayton Godfrey; and ninth-grader (and only remaining IHS band member) Jeremy Waldman.
Callie Murcko said the extended practice was enjoyable as she helped others learn about her instrument. Jorja Murcko, meanwhile, enjoyed getting to socialize with other band members throughout the day.
At the high point in the day, the students earned a combined $254.75 an hour. The band members put in a combined 462.75 hours of practice time.
The top earner, as well as the final musician standing, will be announced Wednesday after all of the pledges have been collected.
THE practice-a-thon was the latest event in a whirlwind month for the IHS musicians, who participated in district jazz, orchestra, concert and choir events Nov. 7.
The students auditioned for the all-district in their respective disciplines.
Eleven of the 17 District Jazz Band members are from Iola, including the entire trumpet session.
The all-district jazz band qualifiers are:
Saxophones — Braden Plumlee, Zury Burleson and Ryan Eyster; trumpets — Madison Carlin, Bryan Gentry, Quentin Mallette, Jaden Channel and Jacob Benedict; trombone — Spencer Ames, Judd Wiltse and Isaiah Wicoff; and alternates Kassy Shelby (alto sax), Katie Weide (tenor), Reece Kimball (trombone) and Jeremy Waldman (drums.)
The all-district high school band qualifiers are:
Flute — Jennifer Tidd and Bobbie Sinclair; Clarinet — Kassy Shelby, Allyson Hobbs and Erin Klubek; alto sax — Braden Plumlee; baritone sax — Ryan Eyster; trumpet — Bryan Gentry, Quentin Mallette and Madison Carlin; horns — Torri Smith and Olivia Taylor; trombone — Reece Kimball and Isaiah Wicoff.
Isaiah Fawson, on violin, and Clarie Moran, cello, were named to the all-district high school orchestra.
Abigail Taylor, meanwhile, was named to the all-district choir.
And in an unrelated matter, eighth-grader Andre Quinn learned Friday he was accepted to play his tuba in the John Phillip Sousa Middle School Honor Band.
“That was very competitive,” Kleopfer said. “He was auditioning against the best kids in the state.”
Kleopfer said the recognition is proof that Iola has a growing number of talented musicians.
“We’re starting to get really deep, and not just one or two great players,” Kleopfer said. “It’s spreading. We have more kids taking summer lessons. More kids are hanging out and playing their instruments together.”
Sometimes for hours on end. Like Saturday.
