The miscellaneous Rock Band of Catlin Gabel
By Hridhaan Garg ‘29
From left to right, Oliver Parry ‘28, Daniel Fine ‘28, Aliyah Abodunrin ‘29, Elise Steinauer ‘27, Hailyn White ‘28, Nina Oreste ‘30, Elliot Riha ‘30, Caden Langman ‘30, and Emerson Wells ‘30. Photo by Hridhaan Garg.
I walked into a seemingly chaotic room. Drums crashed, guitars echoed through the speakers, and sheet music flew everywhere. It looked disorganized, like no one knew what they were doing. But when I took a closer look, I realized I was mistaken.
Rock and roll, previously titled “devil’s music,” is a genre known and loved by millions. Originating in the United States around the 1950s, rock music has paved the way for many artists. Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Queen, and Led Zeppelin are a few who helped shape the genre into what it is today.
Here at Catlin Gabel School (CGS), we have our own creative minds making their mark on the rock scene. Led by Judy Rose, who has taught at CGS for many years, the school’s Rock Band brings together students from different grade levels and musical backgrounds to create and perform music.
The Rock Band consists of a diverse cast, including members from different grade levels with varying musical experience. Junior Hailyn White played bass for the jazz band in the past. Ninth graders Nina Oreste, Caden Langman, and Elliot Riha all played various instruments in the Middle School band.
Lead vocalists senior Elise Steinauer and junior Daniel Fine often use theater warm-ups to get their voices ready to sing, bringing their performance experience into the rehearsal room.
The Rock Band stays close to its musical roots, sticking to songs such as “Come As You Are " by the iconic alternative rock band Nirvana. Their process starts with each member of the band suggesting a song they would like to perform. Then the band votes on a song they are all interested in.
Each member has their own way of practicing their part. For sophomore Aliyah Abodurin, repetition is most helpful for remembering music. She starts by choosing a small section of the song and repeating it until she feels comfortable playing it. White prefers to play the whole song, following her sheet music till she feels comfortable.
Despite its many methods, making music is no easy feat, especially in a large group. Bringing different parts into one cohesive piece can be difficult. Steinauer said that there are sometimes “moments in rehearsal it's hard to see the song come together.” She also remarked, however, that when it comes time to perform, every member rises to the occasion.
That is not to say, however, mistakes don’t happen; whether it's an off-tune guitar or an off-tempo drum, small things can add up and ruin the sound of the song. When one member of the group messes up their part, it can affect the entire band, forcing everyone to start over. Each musician has to pay attention to the others and work together in unity to keep the song moving forward.
While they work together as a team, every member has their own reasons for joining the group. Oreste enjoys the freedom to try new instruments. Langman describes it as “just a great time.” Their shared appreciation for music brings them together, giving students with different backgrounds a common interest and a chance to learn from one another.
Nearing the end of rehearsal, the band got back together to play the songs they had been working on. It was amazing to see it all come together, Oreste’s drums started to mix with White’s bass, and Steinauer's vocals pushed through.
Even though there were flaws, the band continued playing, listening, and pushing music forward.
What initially sounded chaotic began to make sense as each musician contributed their part. Through practice, patience, and a shared passion for music, the band showed that creating a cohesive sound takes more than just individual talent. It takes a special group of people willing to work together.