Students at The Summit are introduced to band instruments in the 4th grade and have the opportunity to select one they can learn to play in the 5th grade. Although the program is voluntary, 75% to 85% of the students opt to study with Sarah Nowlin, a nationally-recognized clarinetist who performs with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and also teaches at The Summit.

Most of the students have had no previous experience playing an instrument when they begin. They may select flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone or baritone in 5th grade and branch off to other instruments in 6th grade. While Ms. Nowlin has expertise on the clarinet, she knows how to play every wind and percussion instrument in the band and remains the instructor for students who want to continue band through high school. “We play a wide variety of selections, from Bach chorales to contemporary movie music and everything in between,” says Ms. Nowlin. The bands always deliver energy and excitement and have been known to evoke tears with performances of “Battle Hym of the Republic” and head-banging fun with “Smoke on the Water.”

Each Band class seems to develop a unique personality and culture defined by the individuals in it. “Some bands are competitive, some are playful, some bands have created their own "band movies" and some bands want to be challenged with very difficult music,” Ms. Nowlin says. “Each band becomes a small sub-family of the big Summit family where students are supportive of one another in the spirit of making good music. And having fun is always encouraged.”

Ms. Nowlin’s success with the Band Program was underscored with the invitation for Simon Chow to play in the 2010 American High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. Simon, only started playing the trumpet in 6th grade. “Ms. Nowlin is a great teacher,” he says. “She makes Band class fun. She always pushed us to play harder and harder music each year. She just pushed us to keep going.”

The ability to play an instrument results from desire, passion and work ethic, says Ms. Nowlin. “Everyone can learn to play.”