Florissant Youth Premieres His Song At School
Independent News
Author Unknown
March 3, 1988
Thirteen-year-old* Mike Heeley of Florissant says he wants to write a symphony some day, but for now he'll just take pride in knowing that his original composition "Band Boogie," has been premiered by the Lawson elementary School Band.
Mike's song, which he described as featuring a strong bass line, was performed at the school's PTA meeting Feb 23. The composition (about two minutes in length) was written entirely by Mike, but he acknowledged receiving several helpful suggestions from Director Alan Moss.
A fourth-year band student (having started in the third grade at St. Ferdinand School), Mike said he composed the song by "just sitting down at the piano one day and trying to write a song with a chord and a good bass line".
He then took the idea to mr. Moss, who gave Mike some suggestions about minor changes and explained how to score the music. The sixth grader took it from there, spending "about a month" revising the piece. At that point, he wrote the parts for elementary band members with some assistance from his director.
In addition to the piano, Mike plays the trumpet and the french horn and said he wants to write a symphony someday. In the meantime, he hopes to perform with the Hazelwood West Marching and Concert Bands to earn a grade point average high enough to win a scholarship to Webster College. After that, Mike said, "I want to be a song writer and maybe a music teacher".
Mr. Moss might even be prouder of that accomplishment.
*I was actually 12
Thirteen-year-old* Mike Heeley of Florissant says he wants to write a symphony some day, but for now he'll just take pride in knowing that his original composition "Band Boogie," has been premiered by the Lawson elementary School Band.
Mike's song, which he described as featuring a strong bass line, was performed at the school's PTA meeting Feb 23. The composition (about two minutes in length) was written entirely by Mike, but he acknowledged receiving several helpful suggestions from Director Alan Moss.
A fourth-year band student (having started in the third grade at St. Ferdinand School), Mike said he composed the song by "just sitting down at the piano one day and trying to write a song with a chord and a good bass line".
He then took the idea to mr. Moss, who gave Mike some suggestions about minor changes and explained how to score the music. The sixth grader took it from there, spending "about a month" revising the piece. At that point, he wrote the parts for elementary band members with some assistance from his director.
In addition to the piano, Mike plays the trumpet and the french horn and said he wants to write a symphony someday. In the meantime, he hopes to perform with the Hazelwood West Marching and Concert Bands to earn a grade point average high enough to win a scholarship to Webster College. After that, Mike said, "I want to be a song writer and maybe a music teacher".
Mr. Moss might even be prouder of that accomplishment.
*I was actually 12