The new school year has come with numerous changes, big and small, from new lights to the loss of well-loved teachers. But perhaps the most shocking change was saying farewell to our band teacher. Mr. David Dick taught at Rocklin High since it first opened in 1993, making him one of the oldest and most venerable members of the staff.

Despite budget cuts to the performing arts department, Mr. Dick managed to expand the band program to include everything from a steel drum band to a jazz band that meets before school. Now the question is: who’s going to fill his shoes?

Mr. Tom Douglass, former teacher at Spring View Middle School has stepped up and accepted the position.

With a new teacher, the program is inevitably going to change, for better or worse.

According to sophomore, Thomas Hay, “Last year was more laid back. This year is more focused on the music.”

It seems that Mr. Douglass is concentrating more on making the band’s individual pieces sound pristine. Mr. Dick focused on playing as much music as possible in order to give his students exposure and practice.

Is this a good change? Thomas thinks so. He says that the style is going to be “helpful.” Junior Connor Bickford concurs. With luck this change in style will help raise the band’s level of performance.

An intense music program will ultimately mold intense musicians that can handle the rigour of one of the hardest programs music has to offer: marching band.

A marching band requires commitment and coordination, and Mr. Douglass is going to be helping manage the one here at Rocklin High School. It’s up to him to decide how intense the program is actually going to be. Whether they’ll be marching up Thunder Hill three times a day, or just putting in a casual practice here and there is yet to be known.

Whether or not the new program proves to be an improvement or a depreciation from Mr. Dick’s years with us, there is a new age of music in store for Rocklin High.