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Students learn to overcome
Band members reflect on skills gained through music program

Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Saturday, June 4, 2016

IQALUIT
Behind the performances is a group that learns and grows together.

Band is part of teacher Mary Piercey-Lewis's music programs at Inuksuk High School. It is also where band members all feed off each other's energy, said Grade 11 student and saxophone player Natalie Maerzluft.

She admits to getting nervous at times but uses each performance as a learning opportunity.

"If you're not confident in your solo, you start short breathing, you feel your hands getting sweaty and you get up there and you get ready to play and then you just start squeaking, and you mess up," said Maerzluft.

"But you've just got to keep going, and I think that's the best part. When you mess up you can be like, 'OK, I messed up,' and move on."

Tsoi Yung Lau, a Grade 11 student and flute player in the same program, says it is all about trying her best.

"When it comes to you playing alone and you're just standing there, there's that anxious feeling," she said.

But that doesn't deter her from loving to perform.

"After all this hard work in practising, practising at home and practising in school, that moment you're performing is that contribution to show what you can do in front of the school and in front of the community, that's what I feel is the greatest part."

Maerzluft loves when her group gets in the groove.

"My favourite moment is when we really just get a song," she said. "I remember a couple of practices ago where we had pretty much perfected a song and it sounded amazing. I got chills playing."

Yung Lau plans to focus on a science field for her career, but she thinks she will always be playing music as a stress reliever.

"I enjoy playing music," she said. "It's relaxing when you're doing homework or in a stressed situation."

Maerzluft says what she's learned from band class will stay with her for life. She recommends people join.

"If anybody has the opportunity to join music, they should do it, because whether you enjoy listening to it or you enjoy playing it, it's definitely an amazing outlet or coping mechanism to get through tough times," she said.

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