New Lockney Band Director Dr. Robert Rumbelow speaks to students at a July 17 meet and greet at Lockney's band hall. (Ryan Crowe/FCR)
LOCKNEY – The first thing students and parents noticed was the carpet. “Look, did you notice they were squares?” one parent could be heard commenting to a friend at a recent meet & greet thrown by new director Robert Rumbelow.
The carpet is new, the instruments will be new, the director is new. Lockney’s Longhorn Band is starting over. The students can feel a tangible change, and not just from a fresh coat of paint on the wall. The school has invested in them, and invested in their future as musicians.
First, the instruments. In June LISD’s board approved $200,000 in equipment purchases. How far does that much money go in buying tubas, clarinets and drums? “Ninety-five percent of the band will be marching with either brand new or one-year-old equipment” Dr. Rumbelow told his students at their introductory meeting. In a release about the purchases and hire, Lockney ISD said the equipment would affirm their “commitment to the success of our students.”
Second, the carpet and paint are just some of the changes happening to help Lockney compete. During a recent tour of the band hall one maintenance worker guessed the previous carpeting had been installed “In the 1970s” and that many of the practice rooms had been filled with any number of items. That has all changed, as has where the band will practice. Again, according to the news release, LISD is also revitalizing the north parking lot at the elementary school to provide a more convenient and efficient space for marching rehearsals.
Thirdly, the director. Dr. Rumbelow comes to Lockney after UIL Marching Contest success at Plains and Crosbyton. Adding in his collegiate-level experience, he brings a world of knowledge to encourage the young musicians of Lockney. “Kids see this investment. They see the school really cares about what they’re doing. They will benefit from this for years.”
Those musicians have noticed how the district has stepped up. “I’m pretty excited, I feel like we actually have a chance to go far. I want to get one of those big trophies,” Drum Major Annalicia Hernandez said. “I think this is going to be a really good year. I think we’re going to learn a lot,” fellow Drum Major Thalia Ascencio added.
As they enter their senior years, both girls say they expect to be leaving a program that is much more thriving than what they came into in junior high. And speaking of junior high, this fall will see eighth graders join the high school marching band, giving the band more bodies to work with and the drum majors two years worth of students to train on marching. Both laughed and said they were up for the challenge.
Lockney’s investment in music doesn’t just start with junior high though. This fall Lockney Elementary School will have a new teacher in Ms. Michaela Rummel, who in addition to teaching elementary music will also assist with the band program.
“This is going to be exciting,” Superintendent Jim Baum said in the June news release announcing the moves. A sentiment that now runs through the students as they head toward the first day of summer band on August 1.
