Band instructor says goodbye

Carol Doede is ending her career on a high note -- an entire concert of them.

After teaching band in Carson City for 26 years, her fifth-grade students performed their final concert under her leadership Thursday night at the Carson City Community Center.

"The spring concert is always exciting and sad," Doede said. "I'm so proud of their progress but I know they'll be moving on. I'm just approaching this one the same as the others, trying not to think about it too much."

Doede teaches band at Fritsch, Bordewich-Bray and Seeliger elementary schools and will end her 29-year career at the end of this school year.

It wasn't an easy decision to make.

"I love my job," she said. "It's the best job in the world."

She said students come into her classroom not even knowing how to open their instrument case. By the end, they're performing entire concerts.

"You have to teach them everything so the growth is really phenomenal," she said. "By the end of the year, they're really playing. They're young musicians."

The only drawback, she said, is that music is often not recognized as one of education's priorities.

"I think it's so essential, but it's so overlooked. It's sad for the children," she said. "When they're playing their instruments they use both side of their brain, not just the right or the left. Children who play in the band score higher on all those standardized tests."

She sees the threat of destroying the band program growing within the school district and decided to back out.

"If you can't beat them, join them. I can't beat them so I'm not going to join them," she said.

But she will always have music.

"Music is my life," she said. "I'm not going to give up on it."

She plays in the Capital City Community Band, which was founded by her husband, Richard, and plans to take up her woodworking hobby again.

She and her husband own and operate an instrument repair business and may open a private band school.

"I'll have a lot of things going on, musically and otherwise."

Doede and other retirees will be recognized during Tuesday's school board meeting.

IF YOU GO:

What: Carson City School Board meeting

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.