Super Kid: Kaelyn Stanton, Lynnwood High School junior

Published 8:20 pm Sunday, November 30, 2014

Kaelyn Stanton, 16, a junior at Lynnwood High School

Question: The nonprofit group Music4Life loaned you the Pelland trumpet, a performance-level instrument, for this school year. The loan is based on recognizing exceptional talent in a young trumpet player. Can you tell me a little about this trumpet?

Answer: It’s a really a professional level trumpet. The tone is incomparable. I love this horn so much. It gives me a sense of confidence I didn’t feel with the instruments I’ve owned in the past. This one sort of makes me feel like a real musician and to be at the best level that I can be. The tone is beautiful on it. It’s definitely better than anything I’ve ever played.

Q: What color is the trumpet?

A: It’s silver.

Q: How long have you been playing the trumpet?

A: Since 5th grade. That’s when I was 9 or 10.

Q: What interested you in the trumpet?

A: Over the summer, between 4th and 5th grade, I had learned the clarinet. My 5th grade band teacher found me holding the trumpet. He said, ‘Wow not enough girls play the trumpet. We could use some more girls.’ I just wanted to be that oddball, I guess.

Q: What band activities are you involved in?

A: At school I’m in the wind ensemble, the honors band and the first jazz ensemble. Also in the school’s pep band.

I also participate this year in contest in February where we play a solo for the judge. If we’re good enough we get to go to state. Those are the main things I do with other music students.

Q: What other activities are you involved in?

A: I do Taekwondo and honors and AP classes. I have a (weekend) job at McDonald’s. I don’t do sports any more. I wanted to make more time for my AP classes.

Q: Which AP classes are you taking?

A: AP language and composition and AP biology.

Q: What are you plans after you graduate from high school?

A: I’m thinking about doing all my prerequisites at Shoreline and Edmonds community colleges and hopefully to get a bachelors in nursing. I’m hoping to be a nurse, particularly at the University of Washington hospital. I volunteered there over the summer. I like the area, the campus of the school. Working in the hospital was a lot of fun. It kind of gave me an idea of being a nurse. That’s my most definite plan for the moment.

Q: Do you do any volunteer work?

A: In June and July last year I volunteered at the Edmonds Summer Music School as a staff member. I made the environment more fun for the kids. That’s what the volunteer staff do. We help teach them techniques in music and good practicing tips. That was really fun.

Q: How old were the students?

A: The youngest is 6th grade and the oldest is 9th grade.

Q: What’s your favorite class?

A: Well, besides band, I really like biology. I like English, too. Probably between those two and band.

Q: When does band practice start?

A: I have zero period and second period band. Jazz band starts at 6:20 a.m. It’s so early for such loud noises. Then you have to focus and it’s like it’s too early.

Q: Are there any life lessons you’ve learned from band?

A: How to work as a team. It’s important for everyone to do their share of their work so that the product of the whole group can be satisfactory.

Q: Are you considering pursuing music in college and beyond?

A: I was thinking about it for a really long time. I was thinking about minoring in it. I was hoping our school offered AP music theory class. Music theory is really interesting to me, chord progressions. That’s the kind of classes I would take if I want to minor in music. I definitely want to be in band in whatever college I go to. I want to stick with it through college at least and be in the ensembles.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486; salyer@heraldnet.com.