August 30, 2007

Discipline, Marching, Music and Fun

By Christi Anne Corpus
Signal Staff Writer

At first glance, Melissa Palmer doesn't seem like your typical band director. In a forest green blouse, capri pants and small black slip-on shoes, the 20-something woman appears more like one of her students as she stands with a small group in a center of the Canyon High School football field.

But once she shouts "Atten-hut," her control of the school's 70-member marching band is obvious, as each student stands erect with their instruments steady, listening to her every command.

"She's got a real great balance of fun and discipline. And she's developed a great rapport with the kids," said band booster president and parent Denis DeFigueiredo. "That's because she's communicating. She wants the music to be good and wants the kids to succeed, but she wants it to be fun too."

Palmer was hired as the school's new instrumental music director in May, and now oversees the school's marching band, jazz band, symphonic band, color guard and drum line, in addition to teaching music appreciation.

"When I interviewed for the job, I knew that this is where I wanted to be," Palmer said. "I felt connected here and I left knowing this is the job I wanted."

Palmer graduated from Cal State Fullerton in 2006 with a degree in music education and jazz performance. The Iowa native moved to California after meeting her husband Kye Palmer, the current trumpet player for the Tonight Show.

The couple married in 2006 and live in Glendale. In addition to teaching at Canyon High, Palmer also plays the saxophone in swing bands based in Orange County and Long Beach.

When asked how she balances her work with her performances, Palmer said, "I have a very understanding and patient husband. And I drink a lot of coffee."

Palmer maintained that she has been interested in music since childhood, and said one of her first memories was listening to music with her mother and brother while the trio washed the walls of their home.

"I don't remember the TV being on often, but we listened to music a lot," she said.

"When I went to college, I was torn because I really loved playing, but I also loved teaching," she said, adding that she has been teaching music privately for the past eight or nine years.

"I went on a road trip with a band and realized how difficult that was going to be. I made up my mind," said Palmer. "I always wanted to be a band director. And I can still be a band director and play."

"The kids know they're accomplishing things, but they're not afraid to have fun," DeFigueiredo said. "They see someone who respects them, who's earned their respect in such a short amount of time. She's a very accomplished musician, she knows what she's talking about and she's got great mentors."

This is her first teaching position as a music director.

"It's been pretty incredible," she said. "The kids are here because they want to be. We balance fun with hard work. That's why it works. I don't have any tricks."

Of her students, Palmer said, "The kids are wonderful. I couldn't ask for a greater bunch of students. The most important thing to me is that they learn to appreciate their music experience."