Musicians count fractions as they read sheet music. Maya says, “In Band class, we start with the Bb scale whole notes, then quarter notes, and then eighth note scales. Reading music is like math, and I like math.” Maya and I discussed some other ways that playing music enhances areas of her life. She says, “When running in P.E., sometimes I make up a song in rhythm to my heart beat.” Maya takes dance classes after school, and she says that playing the flute in Band helps her hear and keep the beat better when dancing.
Band Director, Darren Dix, says “Maya was one of the beginning band students who reached the ‘Black Belt’ in our Band Karate, which means she completed half of our beginning book last year. She has already begun working her way to ‘Double Black Belt’, which would be completing the entire book. Maya brings solid rhythm and a keen memory for notes to the ensemble.”
Congratulations to Maya Yerly, November 2025 Music Student of the Month!
SAVE THE DATE: Orcas High School Band and Strings Winter Concert on Thursday Dec 18, at 7 PM at Orcas Center.
The Music Student of the Month series recognizes Orcas Island Public School musicians who work hard at their musical skills and whose love of music is an inspiration to their fellow student musicians. Thank you so much to the Orcas Island businesses who are sponsoring this monthly series throughout the 2024-25 school year that recognizes the efforts of student musicians and the value of school music!
–as published in Islands’ Sounder November 2025
Music Advocacy Group 