UC High welcomes new Music Instructor Brandon Rhinehart. Located in the Music Room (room 208), he teaches band, orchestra, and choir. Rhinehart also has provides students the opportunity to play in a jazz band that meets during lunch twice a week.
Rhinehart has been in the music profession for about 13 years, and his history within music pertains mostly to wind, band and jazz. He grew up in Winchester, Virginia, where he began playing saxophone in his middle school band. He then narrowed down to studying jazz in high school and college. “I attended James Madison University, where I studied under David Pope, a world renowned free jazz saxophonist. Within my time there, as well as post-college, I played and coached various saxophone quartets, jazz bands, jazz combos, rock bands, and wind bands,” said Rhinehart. Rhinehart taught middle school and high school students for two years, covering instruments like piano and guitar while overseeing the respective marching and concert bands.
Senior Eileen Kim said, “My experience has been great so far. He’s created a relaxed and enjoyable environment. He’s super kind to everyone and is open to student ideas.” Rhinehart tries to make sure everyone’s voice is equally heard and to be supportive and inviting to all students.
Rhinehart believes that his class is a place for exploration, as music, “…is a world where community and culture collides with learning and creativity. A musician can spend their whole life searching for the answers to life’s questions in music. However, some of my students come and play because it’s a way they blow off steam from their super busy day, see their friends, and make some cool sounds. I do not believe either one is better than the other. It’s really whatever you want it to be as long as you have something to contribute,” said Rhinehart.
In the classroom, Rhinehart isn’t afraid to show his willingness to make his students feel as comfortable as possible with the change in teachers. Senior Storme Higgins expressed that his “…experience with [Rhinehart] has definitely been a good one so far.” Despite any differences between himself and the former UC Music teacher, Mr. Brandon Corenman, he “…thinks the switch was a smooth transition.” “He’s been very patient, and his attitude is uplifting as well as encouraging. Mr. Rhinehart fosters collaboration by making sure everyone is always actively participating, and trying their best during practice or rehearsal. I hope that we can just keep the program going strong for the future, and continue to achieve great things,” said Higgins.
Rhinehart is grateful to UC High for their supportive and welcoming environment. He said, “It has been great. Everybody has been so kind to me. Running a music program contains a lot of moving parts, but it helps when the students, staff, and parents are all willing to contribute and make the transition as smooth as possible.”
“My ultimate goal for my students is to render myself obsolete. I want my students to understand how they best learn, so when they leave my class at the end of their time here, they are now their own teacher and they have the ability to pursue a life of learning and success,” said Rhinehart. Rhinehart’s contributions to UC High have just begun, yet he has already made a great impact across the school’s music program.