Backes returns to Osage County to lead Fatima band

By Neal A. Johnson, UD Editor
Posted 10/3/24

WESTPHALIA  —  Amy Backes began her teaching career at Chamois R-1, where she taught band for 10 years. She began teaching in 2015-16 at North Elementary ...

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Backes returns to Osage County to lead Fatima band

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WESTPHALIA    Amy Backes began her teaching career at Chamois R-1, where she taught band for 10 years. She began teaching in 2015-16 at North Elementary in Jefferson City. This year, she returned to Osage County and took the helm of the Fatima band program.

“I’m excited to teach locally again,” said Backes, who lives near Rich Fountain with her husband, Brad, and their daughters, Rose and Violet. “I’ve always been around music; it’s been a lifelong passion.”

Backes began taking piano lessons at the age of 5 and then expanded to the clarinet in the sixth grade, an instrument she played all the way through high school in Blue Springs and her time at Missouri State. “I was actually in the last class to graduate with the Southwest Missouri State name,” said Backes with a hint of pride. “My dad plays a bit of guitar, and when my mom was in high school, she was a baton twirler for her band, but my grandmother played clarinet in the Navy Band. My grandma suggested the piano lessons, and then I picked up the clarinet because she played. I would say my grandmother had a lot of influence in my decisions.”

Not long after accepting her first job at Chamois, Amy met Brad in Jerry’s Stop & Go one night, and they began talking. “I kept running into him, and one thing led to another,” she said. “I thought I would teach at Chamois for a while, get some experience, and try to head back to Kansas City. I just never did.”

Instead, she embraced her community and did her best to build the marching band at Chamois. “The band included students from seventh through 12th grade,” said Backes. “The biggest we had was 43.”

Backes said she learned to read notes on paper but enjoys the challenge of playing a song by ear alone.

“I’m getting better with the ear stuff, especially because this is my first time teaching jazz band this year,” she added. “I’m happy to be here with these kids. I got into teaching because I love band, and I wanted to be a band director. I spent 10 years in Chamois, and I really loved that school. But then I had my two girls, and when I left Chamois, I think they were 4 and 1, and it was just getting really hard with the parades and the stuff to have very little kids. So I worked at North Elementary, and my kids got to go to school with me, which made things easier.”

When Rose reached the sixth grade, she began attending Fatima, and Violet followed. “Now, the opposite problem started to happen again,” said Backes. “They’re involved in everything, sports, and music, and so it’s like, who’s going to get to school to pick them up first? And then this job came open, and my daughter actually came home one day and said, ‘Hey, Mom, this position’s open, and me and my friends think you should apply for it.’ And I’m like, are you sure you really want me to be your teacher? She said, ‘Yeah.’ Rose is in my band, and Violet is in the sixth-grade band.”

Backes said her students have been great to work with and are making progress every day. “We have some highly musically talented kids here,” she added. “I’m very impressed.”

Backes said that when she came into the program, she observed students and chose her leaders. “I interviewed all the kids, and that was really good because I wanted to know what they considered the more important traditions of their band,” said Backes. “They told me about certain veterans-based songs they’ve played every year and the drumline cadences they’re used to doing.”

Backes added her own twist to parade marches. “We’ve been working on a new corner turn called a ‘Texas Turn,’ where everyone turns in a line,” she explained. “I taught the kids that, and they picked it up quickly. I like teaching something like that, especially since we don’t have field-show marching. That was kind of a little maneuver for them to have fun with. It’s pretty amazing.”

Backes selected senior Lily Gregory and junior Couper Bryant to serve as drum majors. “Lily was a drum major last year, so she’s been very helpful because she knows how everything works, and she’s been an excellent mentor to Couper, too, teaching him how to do all the different things that the drum majors do,” she said.

Gregory began her band journey in the sixth grade and has always wanted to lead. “It just seemed like something I would like to do,” she said. “I like to help people if they’re struggling with something.”

She plays alto and tenor saxophone, clarinet, and some piano, but she didn’t march with an instrument last year and looks forward to her second year as a drum major. “I miss playing sometimes, but it’s easier because I don’t have to focus on the music,” Gregory said. “I have a lot more to watch.”

Gregory and Bryant are responsible for watching every player to ensure they’re in step, have good posture, are walking in a straight line, and that the instruments are appropriately arranged for the best sound.

Like Backes, Gregory is prohibited from much direction beyond timing during parades. “We watch closely in practice, and if someone is off, we tell them and help them correct it,” she said. “A lot of it has to do with muscle memory. You have to practice it a lot over and over again.”

Backes said her job is to watch everything, make adjustments as needed during practice, and leave timing and direction to Gregory and Bryant during parades. “When we get up there for the judges, they’re running themselves, and I want them to be independent,” said Backes. “I always walk next to them, just in case I need to say something, but I want them to be able to go through the whole parade route in front of the judges on their own. And I want them to have the confidence. We’re playing music, but we teach a lot more, like leadership and being part of a team. I want the Fatima band room not only to be a place where great music happens but also a place where kids form friendships, leadership skills, and confidence. Band helps with so many life skills!”

Gregory also serves as a teaching assistant for middle school students with Backes. She acknowledged that a musical teaching career is a possibility, but she’s also considering speech pathology.

She’s excited about the season. “I think this is going to be a good year,” said Gregory. “We’ve had a few struggles the past couple of years because we’ve had so many director changes and miscommunications, but I think everyone is getting along pretty well, and I think Mrs. Backes is bringing a lot of good things to the band. She’s really pushing us to be better.”

The band’s 36 members march during the current season, which will close at the end of October. During competitions, schools are divided by size and placed in different divisions. Along the route, the band will perform in front of two judging stations. One accounts for 60% of the score for the musical selection and how it sounds. The other 40% is for marching execution. Separate judges score the color guard and percussion, which don’t feed into the whole band score. “They’ll give awards for second and third place, and then best color guard and best drumline,” said Backes, adding her goal is to help the band bring home some trophies this year.

A bigger goal is to create an interest that lasts more than a single year. “I want to see more kids continue with band next year,” said Backes. “I want to see the program grow.

Fatima marched in Jefferson City’s Labor Day Parade, which was not a competition but an opportunity for the kids to work on a few things before the scored parades began.

“We really enjoyed that parade,” said Backes. “The Jefferson City Labor Council donated $500 to the band program, and barbecued or grilled hot dogs and provided chips and ice cream afterward for the kids.”

On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Fatima band earned third place at the Marching Festival and received the “Fan Favorite” Trophy.

After the contest season ends, the group will participate in Christmas parades, and the Pep band will be playing at basketball games, which Backes said students eagerly anticipate. “They’re very excited,” she added. “One fun thing to do with this is that the kids go out there and play those rock and pop songs.”

The band is working on some high-powered pop songs this year, including “HandClap” by Fitz and the Tantrums, “Fireball” by Pitbull, and “Blinding Lights” by the “Weeknd.”

Though it seems too far away to contemplate, especially with so many activities between now and the spring, seven band members plan to audition in Waynesville on Oct. 8 for district band. The spring contest season includes solo and ensembles, and those earning All-District will return to Waynesville in early November to work with a clinician all day, followed by a big concert at the end of the day. All-District band members are also eligible to audition for the state band. Backes explained that All-State band members will attend the music teachers’ conference in January. “They’ll get to spend three days with a clinician, and they’ll perform together as well,” she said.

Whether students earn All-District or a seat in the state band, Backes believes that music and band are for everyone who wants to participate. “I’ve got a good working relationship with the coaches and sponsors here at Fatima,” she added. “The teachers and coaches are great to work with. I’ve got several soccer players, wrestlers, cross country, and track athletes in band this year. I’ve also got several kids involved in FCCLA, dance team, cheerleading, FBLA, and FFA. You can do it all, and we’ve got a lot of multi-talented kids at this school.”