What is Hoover Instrumental Music (HIM)? It’s the music program here at Hoover High School, featuring many ensembles, from the Marching Band to the Jazz Band.

“There’s a lot of different ensembles that we offer here so there’s really a place for everybody,” says Ms. Melissa Campbell, the music director. “There’s a place for everyone to fit in.” She adds that anyone can join regardless of musical ability, whether you’re “just kind of interested in it or you’ve been playing for 10 to 12 years and you want to keep going and be a leader within the program.”

Ms. Campbell joined the Hoover faculty in 2022, where she began her journey to grow the HIM. She had heard a lot about Hoover’s competitive Marching Band and wanted to expand and cultivate the program. The HIM had experienced many director changes in the past, and Ms. Campbell wanted to be a stable person that the band could rely on. 

As the director, Ms. Campbell oversees the program. She plans concerts, recruits from Toll Middle School, manages finances, plans events and competitions, and does a lot of paperwork. She also hires staff members to teach students more technical things about their instruments and to provide more support for the program. These staff members are usually young, experienced musicians, most of whom are Hoover alumni. The staff mostly help the Hoover Tornado Marching Band (HTMB) and winter programs, which are also the more competitive groups in the HIM. Here’s a list of all the music groups that Ms. Campbell teaches:

• Hoover Tornado Marching Band (HTMB) (semester 1), turns into Principles Own Concert Band (semester 2)
• Hoover Winterline (semester 2)
• Hoover Winterguard (semester 2)
• Tornado Winds Concert Band (semester 1 & 2)
• Hoover String Orchestra (semester 1 & 2)
• Twisters Pep Band (semester 2)
• Herbert Hoover Jazz Band (semester 1 & 2)

The HTMB is one of the most competitive groups in the HIM, as they attend many competitions, practice almost ten hours a week, and have the most performances during the Fall. They also have 0 period that starts at 7:15 AM. Their practice begins about a week after the last day of school in June and ends in November. The Marching Band here at Hoover has a large culture and many traditions, which adapt as the band grows. 

“We teach life lessons throughout being in the music program. You have to be responsible for knowing your part, you have to be on time to performances, you have to wear the right thing and dress appropriately,” adds Ms. Campbell. 

Moreover, Winterline and Winterguard, the other competitive ensembles, start practice in December up until April. These competitive groups start practicing early, to learn as much of their show as they can and to do well at competitions. 

Ms. Campbell continues, “It’s a really beautiful thing that we’re able to share music and learn music and gain this experience.”

Another ensemble that keeps busy is the Jazz Band. They have many performances throughout the year and learn a great deal of music. They play about 20-25 different pieces of music every year, with students willing to work hard and learn their music to the best of their ability to have good performances. Jazz Band is the only group that requires an audition to enter.

When asked what students should take away from being in the music program, Ms. Campbell says, “The most important thing is to not take things for granted. We talk about not taking our time for granted, we talk about not taking an experience or an opportunity for granted, and I think a big thing is just don’t take these things for granted because this is the only time you’ll have.”