New teacher leads band, flags
By Erika Massek
September 07, 2005
For 27 years, Silver Lake community members have seen Kendall Phelps lead the band during halftime. This year, they will see a new face: Sandra Liggatt.
Liggatt was hired after Phelps retired at the end of the 2004-2005 school year. Phelps has been serving in Iraq for the past semester.
According to Liggatt, this serves as her second year of teaching. Last year, she taught at Pleasant Ridge High School, where she was the band and choir instructor.
Liggatt commented that she enjoys being a band teacher because it is thrilling.
"I enjoy being able to teach students how to play musically and be successful at it. My old high school band teacher inspired me to be a band teacher. I quit band for a year, and he got me to come back. He continued to support me through college, and I'd be surprised if you don't see him at one of our concerts," she said.
Liggatt stated that her favorite instrument is the trumpet.
"I played the trumpet in high school and college. It was my favorite. I also like the drums and keyboard percussion. I like the keyboard percussion because it looks like a piano and can make a lot of cool noises," she said.
Liggatt is from Effingham, where she attended Atchison County High School and played the trumpet.
She attended Kansas State University for four years in order to be a band teacher. Liggatt explained that she always wanted to be an educator.
"Well, I knew I always wanted to be a teacher, and the best subject I did in school was band, so I thought I would give it a try and it worked out," she said.
Liggatt commented that the most difficult part of her job is helping students individually.
"The hardest part is being able to give each student the extra time they need," she said.
Liggatt would like to start her master's degree in music education with an emphasis in band conducting within five years.
On a personal note, she commented that she is very family oriented. She has two older sisters, seven and 10 years older than her. One of them is an engineer who worked for NASA and now lives in Colorado with her baby, Reed.
Her other sister is a microbiologist. She has three children, Christian, Madison, and Noah. Liggatt said she just got married this summer to Luke, who is an electrician.
Liggatt has very high expectations for the band this year.
"Some of my big band goals are to make the group more musical and be able to play fast music and also lyrical music like great pieces. I would like the band to play a variety of pieces such as slow, fast, smooth, march, etc.
"Silver Lake seems great. Everyone is friendly, nice, and energetic," she said.
New teacher leads band, flags
Post your feedback on this topic here
| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| 09/26/2005 | Great story and I have a favor to ask... | Karen Kelley |
| 12/07/2006 | hi my name is Elizabeth i want to... | elizabeth |
