SAIL High School’s cafetorium buzzes with anticipation on October 17 as students gather for this year’s Battle of the Bands. Amongst a flurry of guitar tuning, mic-adjusting and light-programming, Danny Wood, head of the SAIL music program, gently conducts the chaos: answering questions, running the soundboard and making sure each band has exactly what they need to start the show.
Wood has been teaching music for over twenty years. His interest in music and music education was sparked at the very same place he finds himself teaching now. “I’ve been playing music since I was a student at SAIL in the 90s. It’s always been super meaningful and it’s really exciting to be able to carry that forward.”
As the performance approaches, students flood the room with excitement. They help each other set up amps and organize their setlists, displaying an impressive amount of independence and proactiveness. Wood explains that this event is driven by student-organized bands. “The kids sign up and they practice on their own time. I open the music room and they practice during lunch and after school, but they also meet up on the weekends and on the evenings.”
Wood finds that this level of independence empowers the students to take control of their music education. By participating in Battle of the Bands, the students not only learn how to improve their technical skills, but they also work on what Wood describes as “soft skills that involve figuring out how to talk to people, how to set goals for yourself, pick repertoire, and organize band practices.” The event requires students to plan and problem-solve collaboratively, skills which are crucial for those who hope to continue pursuing creative endeavors after high school. In fact, Wood says many past bands formed at SAIL have gone on to play together outside of school, some even becoming active in the larger Tallahassee music community.
The event kicks off as the student emcee, Makalya Bishop, enthusiastically introduces the first performance. Nicole Cornelio takes the stage, guitar in hand, singing two indie pop covers with melodic prowess and technical grace. Next, Somewhat Tragic, another solo act, delivers a medley of gut-wrenching metal songs. Stern Einz, a trio and the first ensemble group of the night, commands the room with their rock tunes and confident stage presence.
The audience, consisting largely of other SAIL students, is supportive and kinetic. They cheer on every performer, celebrating their triumphs and offering encouraging words during minor slip-ups. Danny Wood emphasizes the importance of live performance. “I think there are specific performance skills that are hard to feel without an audience,” he said, “and so getting in front of people, being able to talk to the audience, being able to work with people that you are performing music with in a live setting is really beneficial.”
James Stuart, the next performer, moves the audience with his poised showcase of original songs which are both lyrically clever and rooted in folk and indie rock traditions. To close out the night, the largest ensemble, a seven-piece band called PEMDAS, belts out several lively covers of popular classics including “No Surprises” by Radiohead and “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. The crowd jumps to their feet, pumps their fists, and sings along. When PEMDAS strikes their final chord, the room erupts in applause.
Regarding contemporary music as a specifically powerful tool in education, Wood comments that “this is what speaks to these kids.” He mentions that SAIL has a long tradition of encouraging students’ musical interests, “There used to be a bluegrass program and before that there was an Irish music program. Then over time the interests of kids have changed and we’ve sort of built off of that.”
Wood goes on to explain the benefits of music education. “It gives kids an immediate reinforcement for being at school. It helps kids to gain confidence, to approach hard problems, and to do hard things in life, which is a really important lesson.”
Wood also emphasizes the positive effects of music education on attendance and motivation in other classes. This observation is backed by a plethora of research including a 2019 study published by the Journal of Educational Psychology which found that “high schoolers who take music courses score significantly better on exams in certain other subjects, including math and science, than their nonmusical peers.”
SAIL’s 2025 Battle of the Bands concludes with the judges, consisting of educators and community members, choosing the top three acts: third place goes to Stern Einz, second place goes to PEMDAS, and first place goes to James Stuart. As they pose for a group picture, the students glow with pride for their accomplishments.
“I would use the word magical,” Danny Wood remarks of the students’ participation in this much-anticipated event, “It’s really meaningful and magical to see them take music and make it their own.”
To learn more about SAIL High School and their arts programs, visit their website at https://www.leonschools.net/sail
REFERENCE:
“A Population-Level Analysis of Associations Between School Music Participation and Academic Achievement,” by Martin Guhn, PhD, Scott D. Emerson, MSc, and Peter Gouzouasis, PhD, The University of British Columbia. Journal of Educational Psychology. Published online June 20, 2019.
By Dorie Spangler – COCA Arts Education Coordinator/Public Art Assistant
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