
Meet the Rex Bell ES Brass Bell Band!
Clip: Season 3 Episode 7 | 4m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Rex Bell ES has the only brass band in a CCSD elementary school.
Maria visits Rex Bell ES to meet the third, fourth and fifth grade musicians who are part of the Brass Bell Band. Hear from the students about why they love to play a brass instrument and find out what makes this band so unique!
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Student Spotlight is a local public television program presented by Vegas PBS

Meet the Rex Bell ES Brass Bell Band!
Clip: Season 3 Episode 7 | 4m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Maria visits Rex Bell ES to meet the third, fourth and fifth grade musicians who are part of the Brass Bell Band. Hear from the students about why they love to play a brass instrument and find out what makes this band so unique!
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWell, we first introduced you to the Brass Bell Band during our holiday show back in December.
Check it out.
[performing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"] -What makes this band from Rex Bell Elementary School so unique is that it is the only band in a CCSD elementary school.
We sat by one of their practice sessions.
And I can tell you, I left impressed and inspired by these talented 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.
In a classroom not too far, far away, young musicians at Rex Bell Elementary School are doing something that is out of this world.
(Maddilyn Kneer) My favorite song is "Star Wars" because it's really fun.
I love playing the trumpet because it's my first time ever playing an instrument.
And I think I'm doing really good.
-And they are really good, thanks in part to the leader of the Brass Bell Band.
(Mr. Cook) So here's the difference in sound: A is [trumpet].
A-flat is [trumpet].
-I love being in the band because Mr. Cook teach us and how to play the trumpet.
-Music Teacher Paul Cook is a musician with an impressive resume and a genuine passion for sharing the gift of music with his students.
(Xavier Anderson) What I like about him is how he teaches us how to read music and play trumpet and that he's kind.
-Why are you getting so emotional?
-Sorry.
Because this is such a special opportunity to even do this.
Just the playing part, and they played so well in front of people.
(Rafael Valencia) Thank you for teaching us how to play the instrument.
Thank you for teaching us how to read the notes and play.
-These grateful and talented musicians... (Blen Mamo) I just love the trumpet most.
-And why do you love it so much?
-Because like the sounds and like how we play with the vowel combinations.
-...are even performing masterpieces by famous classical composers.
What's your favorite song?
-Beethoven.
-You heard right, Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony."
-All right, trumpets up.
1...2...3...4 [performing] -And just like Beethoven, they are starting at a young age.
Only eight, nine, and ten years old and already incredible musicians.
(Chloe Avila) I'm the first musician in my family.
-The trumpet is a challenge in this room because any wind instrument requires some breath control, which is the challenge with young players because their lungs aren't developed, their muscles in their face isn't developed as much.
There's a lot to it.
But I never tell them it's hard, and they know that.
I tell them it's challenging because there's a lot going on.
I don't tell them all the things the brain and the tongue is thinking about, all these little details.
I try to introduce them a little at a time so they begin to understand what's going on in the process.
-Why are you proud of yourself?
-I'm proud of myself because I practice more and more until I get better with it.
-During this after-school practice session, they are just starting to learn the Star Wars main theme.
-So how do you play A-flat?
-Two and Three.
-Two and three.
Show me with your trumpet, pushing the right valves.
-But there is no doubt, the force is strong with the trumpeters in the Brass Bell Band.
Do you want to be a musician?
(Genesis Martin) Yes.
I want to learn other things also, like the piano, the guitar, the xylophone.
[playing Star Wars theme] -Bravo!
So proud of these talented young musicians.
And thank you, Mr. Cook, for setting such a wonderful example.
I do have to share a magical moment that happened after the cameras stopped rolling.
Take a look.
I asked the students to show me, an amateur, how to hold the trumpet.
They were all so eager to show me how to do it.
And let me tell you, it took lots of practice on my end.
It's complicated, but we did it.
And that's another lesson that Mr. Cook says he hopes the students take away, not only to share the love of music, but also how to respect and properly care for their instruments.
And they're doing a great job.
And speaking of instruments, a special shout-out to the After-School All-Stars for providing the trumpets.
Now that I know how to hold a trumpet,
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Student Spotlight is a local public television program presented by Vegas PBS