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05/19/2021 08:30 AMFor as long as she can remember, Emma Schreiber has been interested in music. She has continued that love throughout her years at North Branford High School (NBHS) by joining the East Haven High School (EHHS) Co-Op Marching Band and then studying music in college at UConn. She now has returned to the marching band as a volunteer instructor.
“I always loved music and my mom likes to say it’s because she played classical music through headphones to her stomach when she was pregnant,” says Emma. “I didn’t start playing an instrument until 5th grade and I started clarinet with the intention to play the saxophone, but I fell in love with the clarinet.”
When Emma got to NBHS, she signed up for every music class and ensemble she could, making her one of the first students at the school to be involved in every ensemble offered. She also became involved in NBHS Drama Club.
As a sophomore, she decided to join the EHHS Co-Op Marching Band at the urging of NBHS music teacher and Band Director Katie Trainer. The band became a co-op in 2015, two years before Emma’s sophomore year.
“Katie Trainer was involved in the marching band and was talking to everyone about the opportunities we’d have,” says Emma. “I thought it would be walking around and playing, but it was such a different experience than anything else I’d ever done.”
Emma not only learned new skills as part of the marching band, but she was able to experiment with different instruments. She played the baritone saxophone and, when the marching band’s tuba player graduated, Emma took over. By her senior year, she earned the opportunity to be assistant drum major, which allowed her to conduct one of the marching band’s three songs from the podium.
While Emma loved learning new instruments, meeting new people, and rehearsing the routines, her favorite part about being involved with the marching band was the competition. The marching band certainly saw success throughout Emma’s years as it won both the state and New England championships every year Emma participated. The biggest highlight, though, came her senior year.
“We went to nationals and won that,” says Emma. “All of the seniors go on the field and wait for them to announce the awards and hearing our name called for first place was amazing. Everyone was crying and screaming and so proud of everything we’d accomplished.”
Inspired by the music teachers she had over the years, as well as Trainer and EHHS Co-Op Marching Band Director Matt Laudano, Emma chose to study music education in college.
When it came time to pick a school, though, she went with her parents’ alma mater, the University of Connecticut, where she “fell in love with the atmosphere.”
Unfortunately, due to COVID, Emma hasn’t had much of an opportunity to enjoy that atmosphere. As she is focusing on the clarinet and her music classes were unable to practice in person, she opted to take her freshman year virtually.
While some people would have been disappointed, Emma made the most of it. Over the summer, she headed to EHHS to visit the marching band. She enjoyed the visit so much that it became a weekly occurrence and she began helping the team by instructing drill and helping the new tuba player make the adjustment to the instrument from trumpet.
“It’s a big switch to jump to tuba so it was nice to be able to help with that,” says Emma. “Since I was home, I was able to work a part-time job and be there every week. I figured I’d spend my time with the people I like to hang out with and get a lot of experience.”
Emma quickly learned how much behind-the-scenes work went into the marching band. Though it was “weird at first” to be working alongside her former teachers and directors, she found that she was able to bring a different perspective to the table.
“There’s a lot more that goes into the planning than I ever expected,” says Emma. “You have to have a vision for what you want the show to be and make adjustments on what the students will like, what they’ll have the most fun with, and what will look best to the judges.
“I understand what it’s like to be on the other side learning something,” adds Emma, who has also played the alto sax and tenor sax over the years. “It’s definitely different to see the other side, but the transition was pretty easy because I had such a good relationship with my teachers.”
Having good relationships is a big focus of the co-op program, as Emma knows from experience. As a student from NBHS, Emma never felt that there was a divide between the two schools. Instead she found being part of the marching band was a really good way to meet people who share similar interests.
Emma hopes to continue growing those relationships as the EHHS Co-Op Marching Band prepares for the 2021-’22 school year. There were recently several open houses for those interested and new members are always welcome.
The band will meet on Tuesday evenings through the end of the school year, giving the students a chance to get to know each other. Toward the end of the summer, members participate in a two-week band camp where members learn the music and the basics of drilling and marching. During the school year, the marching band usually practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and participates in competitions from September through early November.
“It’s open to anyone who is interested in learning about music,” says Emma. “We have had people come who have played an instrument since they were little and people with no experience; then we have the guard, which twirls the flags and [does] rifle work. If you have any interest, just come check it out and see what it’s all about. It’s a really great experience.”
For information on the EHHS Co-Op Marching Band, email director Matt Laudano at mlaudano@east-haven.k12.ct.us.