Every year, the Hughson High School band and choir go on their annual trip to Disneyland to perform in the park. The trip takes place at the end of March and is three days long. Each year it becomes better and better with the amount of improvements that occur. 

In previous years the band and choir performed, but last year the band got the opportunity to go into Disney’s recording studio and work with one of Disney’s very own music producers and a conductor. The conductor had us play about three or four pieces of music that we have never seen before. We read the music and played until he told us to stop. Then the conductor played the recording of us playing that piece. He had us raise our hands and tell what were some good things about how it sounded and some bad things. After we said some things he gave us some constructive criticism and told us to now use that advice when we played it again. 

After we get back from our trip Mrs. Maki always has us sit down and have an evaluation of our experience. She had us tell her what we liked and disliked about our time in Disney. Last year the whole band collectively agreed that we very much enjoyed working together with the Disney producers. We all said that it was very fun and engaging. Mrs. Maki agreed that it was an amazing opportunity for us and it was a great learning experience. Mrs. Maki said, “I have made the decision to have a switch off every year of performing in the park one year and then the next year working in the recording studio with producers.” This gives band students the opportunity to get an amazing learning experience and the chance to perform in front of many people. Overall, all of us including Mrs. Maki were very pleased and impressed with our trip and the way the Disney staff treated us.