PROGRAMS: STEEL BAND

FHS's Steel Band class focus on the development of musical skills through scales, selected music literature, and solos. The goal of this class is to make every student more aware of how to play an instrument and how to appreciate/understand music. Through problem-solving, critical thinking, and reflection, students develop the physical and cognitive skills to be more disciplined performers. Public performances may serve as a culmination of specific instructional goals. Students may be required to attend and/or participate in rehearsals and performances outside the school day to support, extend, and assess learning in the classroom.

HIGHLIGHT

STEEL BAND

The FHS Steel Band started in 2015 as the World Music Ensemble with three instruments. This year, we have completed the instrumentation for a complete Steel Band. We have received donations from Music Loves Ohio, Puffin Foundation West, Guitar Center, and the Franklinton Arts District. The band has been profiled by NBC 4 Columbus and the Columbus Dispatch (click to see Dispatch story)

The group has played at many events including traveling to Virginia Beach for the 2019 Virginia International PANFest. The FHS Steel Band has also performed at Cleveland's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Columbus Blue Jackets game, "Margaritaville Night" for the Cincinnati Reds, King Arts Complex MLK Day Celebration, FamJam/Mayor's Block Party, the Hilltop Bean Dinner, COSI and many more. They have also traveled to Racine, Wisconsin to perform with the guest artist John Patti and Angel Lawrie's Steel Angels, helping to raise $16,000 for a music therapy pan program. They performed alongside the Bowling Green University and Ohio Northern University Steel Bands and guest artist Tracy Thornton.

The Franklinton Board of Trade has had the FHS Steel Drum Band perform at a variety of events and it is always such an enjoyable and entertaining experience. Director Sam McCoy and the students in the band are not just talented and proficient in a wide range of musical genre, they are also quite professional and efficient with getting set up and ready to go. It impresses me how capable they are at adjusting to a variety of settings. I highly recommend them for any type of event, whether it's a swanky holiday cocktail party or a low-key casual networking event. These guys are awesome!

INSTRUCTOR

Sam McCoy

Director of Development + Music Teacher

Sam McCoy has a BM in Jazz Studies from The Ohio State University as well as an MM in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University. He earned the Graduate Scholar Award in 2006 while at WPU. He is also the director of the Columbus State Community College Steel Band.

The FHS Steel Band is entering its 7th year and students will have the opportunity to work with Capital University's Conservatory of Music while members of the steel band. They will be hosting the 1st Annual FHS/Capital University Steel Band Contest on April 9th of 2022. The band has performed at the Virginia International PANFest, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cincinnati Reds game, Columbus Blue Jackets game, Columbus Commons, Campus Gateway, King Arts Complex, Columbus Arts Festival and many more places recently.

Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about the program or any opportunities you have in mind for our students.

Phone: 614-296-3995 Email: mccoy@franklintonhigh.org