Lawrence and the evolution of sound

Clarke Central High School band director Robert Lawrence joined the fine arts department in August 2009. Since then, he has taken steps to reshape the band program.

STORY BY MOLLIE SHERMAN Senior Copy Editor PHOTOS BY CARLO NASISSE Photography Editor

When former Clarke Central High School band director Blake Gaines resigned from his position in spring 2009, the program’s future was uncertain.

The high-energy, crowd-pleasing marching band under Gaines’ direction featured 77 high school participants in the official 2009 CCHS Gladius Yearbook. Gaines’ resignation sentenced these students to an offseason until CCHS principal Dr. Robbie P. Hooker found a new director.

CCHS fine arts department chair Anthony Rucker was a member of Hooker’s hiring committee during the job search.

“(The committee was) looking for an experienced band director. We could not have a band director without a number of years of experience,” Rucker said. “We also needed a band director who relates well with kids.”

Meanwhile, recent American Conservatory of Music graduate and current CCHS band director, Robert Lawrence, had made his way to Athens, Ga. after a five-year tenure, first as the Assistant Band Director and later as the Coordinator of the Music Department, at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, S.C.

“I wasn’t feeling South Carolina anymore,” Lawrence said. “It wasn’t me. A friend told me about a job opening (at CCHS) and so I sent in an inquiry.”

While sifting through multiple applications, Hooker was impressed both with Lawrence’s vast number of experiences and his notable accomplishments.

Photos by Carlo Nasisse

Previous page: LEADER OF THE BAND: Clarke Central High School band director Dr. Robert Lawrence leads his fourth block concert band students on Oct. 21. Lawrence took his position at CCHS in August 2009 and has worked to change the style of the band since. “Dogs bark, birds fly, fish swim and bands play. The first thing a band does is play. And I wasn’t getting that (before I came to CCHS). I wanted to change that,” Lawrence said. Above: MARCHING TO A NEW DRUM: Clarke Central High School junior Markel Smith plays the sousaphone at the CCHS versus Loganville High School football game on Sept. 30. Smith is a second year band member and has developed his skills under CCHS band director Robert Lawrence. “I’ve improved a lot from when I first blew into the instrument to now when I can hold up a big instrument and play,” Smith said.

“One of the things that stood out for me for Dr. taught music at Supreme Headquarters Allied PowLawrence (was) that he had taken a middle school ers Europe American High School in Mons, Belgium band to Carnegie Hall (in New York City),” Hooker for two years. said. “He had traveled a great deal – he had (taught After returning to the U.S., he gained teaching experience in Colorado as a “It might’ve been tough my first semesmiddle and high ter, but this is where I’m supposed to be. I school band director. In 1992, know that now.” he relocated --DR. ROBERT LAWRENCE, with his wife and three children to

Clarke Central High School band director Coffee County, Ga. Since then, he has further at) the college level as well. If you talked to anyone extended his resume as a band director throughout who’s in the band business in the state of Georgia the southeast. and other surrounding places, his name is wellLawrence accepted the position as director at known. He’s respected in the band community.” CCHS in August 2009. Upon his arrival, he immedi

Lawrence’s experiences span the world. He ately began to gauge the pieces left by the previous graduated from Troy State University in Troy, director. Ala. with a bachelor’s degree in 1979 and as the “When I came (to CCHS), I automatically and university’s first African-American drum major. He instinctively knew there were changes that needed received his master’s the following year. Lawrence to be made, especially from a musical standpoint. served in the U.S. Army as a paralegal and also The first thing a band does is play and I wasn’t getting that,” Lawrence said. “It was all marching band or nothing and some of our students were having a hard time reading music, so I started on a campaign to change that.”

CCHS senior India Hawkins experienced the direction of Gaines during her freshman year and Lawrence during her sophomore year, and noticed a shift in focus when Lawrence took the reins.

“(Under Gaines’ direction), the band was a lot more about being loud than being good. There was no emphasis on reading music – people could not read music at all,” Hawkins said. “Almost everyone played by ear. There was no theory.”

Lawrence’s campaign wasn’t accepted by a number of students who had grown accustomed to Gaines’ instruction. Some could not grasp new concepts or an alternative mindset.

“Dr. Lawrence came in and initially there was a lot of backlash; no one wanted him there. The old band kids were like, ‘We don’t want to do this,’” Hawkins said. “(Lawrence) is really into discipline and really into theory and music. This was completely different than Gaines. A lot of people quit because it was just too hard for them.”

Some students retaliated with negative behavior. Lawrence expressed no tolerance for such problems and began to filter his roster.

“Some of my kids I inherited thought they could tell me what to do (and they were) very unruly. The tail is not going to wag this dog,” Lawrence said. “We’re going to have discipline. You’re not going to come into my classroom and tell me what I’m going to do. That was a necessary divorce. With that divorce came a divorce of such mentality like that. The rest of the kids who wanted to listen and wanted to learn stayed.”

Lawrence’s initial expectations extended past reading and behavioral standards. He hoped his students would be able to broaden their horizons through attending music festivals in Georgia and the surrounding area.

“We went to the Georgia Music Education’s Association Large Group Performance Evaluation my second semester, something Clarke Central hadn’t been to in about 10 years,” Lawrence said. “Our kids just need to be exposed. And in that band arena, that was their first taste of being exposed. The more we did it, the more they understood it. They loved it.”

Another major concept Lawrence implemented in his students was a shift in mindset about the comparison of the concert band versus the marching band.

“The concert band is ‘the’ band – everything else comes from the concert band. There are more people in the (concert band) class than there are on the field, and that’s okay. When people are saying, ‘What happened to the band?’ it’s not a matter of what happened to the band – the band program is probably stronger than it’s been in over a decade. You can’t judge it by its numbers.”

As a band member since his freshman year and the current co-drum major for the marching band, CCHS senior Eder Villegas is in a position to lead and unite the students, regardless of numbers.

“(When Lawrence came) it was all new. People were learning how to march (Lawrence’s) way and it was really hard to get into the transition,” Villegas said. “But we got through it. Even though we lost half our people, we stuck together as a family.”

Despite initial criticism and a negative public perception, Hooker acknowledges the time necessary to build a successful program and reputation and foresees a positive impact by the band.

“I’m not going to sit here and tell you there wasn’t any (backlash). But that happens in any change that takes place. Some people are resistant to change,” Hooker said. “(Lawrence) understood that when he came in and he was prepared for it. I can tell you he’s done an excellent job.”

As the band continues to transition, Hooker also predicts improvement in the quality of music played by the entire program.

“I think you will see in the next three years not only our concert band being recognized, but I think you will see our marching band recognized for their playing skills,” Hooker said. “You will see a change (but) it takes three to five years to take full fruition. And that’s what’s happening with (Lawrence). I’ve had several people write or say thanks for Dr. Lawrence – they like what he’s doing.”

With the support of the administrators and others, Lawrence predicts the program will gradually move forward over the next few years.

“I was in Phase One when I first got here: assessing and seeing what I had and how I can improve it. Phase Two was last year: measuring the effects of what I had taught,” Lawrence said. “Phase Three is what we’re in now, which is the development. Phase four is the total culmination of the band; that’s when we get up to our main level.”

As Lawrence continues to build the program, he looks forward to the construction of the new CCHS Performing Arts Center, part of the SpecialPurpose Local-Option Sales Tax 4 Initiative, which could heavily impact the success of the band. CCHS Associate Principal Mary Thielman commends Lawrence’s expectant attitude.

“(I heard) Dr. Lawrence talking specifically about the SPLOST initiative and what the (Center) would look and sound like,” Thielman said. “The impression I had was, ‘Here’s someone who’s absolutely passionate about what he’s about and is looking two, three, four years down the road at what support systems are in place and what that means for the kids.’”

Lawrence’s experiences thus far have prepared him for success in and out of the classroom and he looks forward to measuring those accomplishments through festivals, competitions and further establishment within the school as he continues at CCHS. “It might have been tough my first semester, but this is where I’m supposed to be. I know that now. A lot of things have happened to me in my past have been done to prepare me for Clarke Central,” Lawrence said. “There are still some mixed feelings about the changing of the style, but the kids are prospering and I think that’s the reason why we got up this morning and came to work.”

Left: THE MUSIC MAN: Clarke Central High School band director Dr. Robert Lawrence has taught at the middle school, high school and collegiate level. He has brought experience and knowledge to his position since his arrival in Aug. 2009. “I ended up at CCHS by the grace of God. This is where I’m supposed to be,” Lawrence said. Below: BONDING WITH THE BAND: Clarke Central High School co-drum major senior Tyler Morgan sits down with CCHS band director Dr. Robert Lawrence on Oct. 21. “(Lawrence’s) Army background and discipline has really influenced me. He’s told me to give it my all and leave everything on the field,” Morgan said.