NAHS Bands

Band Director, New Albany High School

Darren Falk is the Director of Bands at New Albany High School and has been on faculty in the New Albany music program since 1998. Mr. Falk Directs Concert Band, Honors Wind Ensemble, Gold Jazz Band, Maroon Jazz Band, the Marching Band, teaches 6th grade band and is the assistant director for 7th grade band. In addition to his band classes, Mr. Falk currently teaches Senior Seminar. He has also taught Introduction to Music Theory, AP Music Theory, the History of Rock & Roll, and 8th Grade Band. Mr. Falk is currently the New Albany High School Performing Arts Department Chair.

Mr. Falk earned his Bachelors of Music Education degree from The Ohio State University in 1998, his Masters of Music Education degree from the VanderCook College of Music in 2004, and the Masters of Music in Music Technology from Southern Utah University in 2023. In 2007, he founded the New Albany Community Band (now named New Albany Winds) as part of his belief that all student musicians should continue to perform on their instrument after graduation from High School. He is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association and serves as a board member and musical director of the Ohio State University Men's Glee Club Alumni Society. He lives in Westerville, OH with his wife, three daughters and dog Carmen.

Brian Coon graduated from Capital University in Columbus and began his teaching career in 1991 in the Teays Valley Local Schools District. After 9 years at Teays Valley, he spent 8 years at home being "Mr. Mom" for his two daughters until and was hired at New Albany in 2008. Since returning to classroom duties, he has received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Kaplan University and State of Ohio Master Teacher certification.

Mr. Coon has also been an active performer locally and regionally for more than 20 years. Mr. Coon has had the good fortune to perform with many national acts, play with the Columbus Symphony (on pops concerts that use a saxophone section), and play as a member of several jazz, rock, country, Jewish, Salsa, and other bands. Currently, Mr. Coon is a member of The Conspiracy Band, The Kevin Patrick Sweeney Band, The Dwight Lenox Band, and is a saxophonist for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Coon lives in Gahanna with his wife, daughters, and three rescue dogs that now heel beautifully.

Mr. Coon is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the Ohio Music Educators' Association, the National Association for Music Education, and in 2011, Mr. Coon became an artist endorser for Antigua Winds Saxophones.

Amber Townsend is a graduate of New Albany High School, where she participated in color guard.  After high school Amber graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2019 with a degree in History with a focus in Education.  Amber currently resides in Johnstown Ohio with her dog Minnie.  

Grant Kresina is the current Drumline Instructor at New Albany High School.  As a recent alumni of New Albany High School, after being heavily involved with the band program, Grant discovered his love of music and is now attending The Ohio State University with plans to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Music with a specialization in Sonic Arts.  Grant has also recently attended The Recording Workshop, a 7-week long recording program geared towards sound, mixing, mastering, and production.

1. For the shy child, music is self-expression.

2. For the awkward child, it's coordination.

3. For the impulsive child, its a way to channel energy into a rewarding accomplishment.

4. For the easily distracted child, it's concentration.

5. For the uncertain child, it's poise and confidence.

6. For the child who gives up easily, it's perseverance.

Private Lesson are Recommended When Learning an Instrument

Group classes work well for preschool music programs and theory lessons. However, when actually learning how to play an instrument, private lessons are far superior since in private lessons, it is hard to miss anything, and each student can learn at their own pace. This means the teacher does not have to teach a class at a middle of the road level, but has the time to focus to work on the individual student's strengths and weaknesses. For that lesson period, the student is the primary focus of the teacher. The teachers also enjoy this, as they do not have to divide their attention between 20-50 students at a time and can help the student be the best they can be. If you are interested in private music lessons, please contact Mr. McGee and a list of recommended teachers will be sent to you. 

Make Practicing Easier 

As with anything, improving in music takes practice. One of the main problems with music lessons is the drudgery of practicing and the fight between parents and students to practice every day. Here are some ways to make practicing easier: 

Time: Set the same time every day to practice so it becomes part of a routine or habit. This works particularly well for children. Generally the earlier in the day the practicing can occur, the less reminding is required by parents to get the child to practice. 

Repetition: We use this method quite often when setting practice schedules for beginners. For a young child, 20 or 30 minutes seems like an eternity. Instead of setting a time frame, we use repetition. For example, practice this piece 4 times every day and this scale 5 times per day. The child then does not pay attention to the amount of time they are practicing their instrument, but knows if they are on repetition number 3 they are almost finished. 

Rewards: This works very well for both children and adult students. Some adults reward themselves with a cappuccino after a successful week of practicing. Parents can encourage children to practice by granting them occasional rewards for successful practicing. Praise tends to be the most converted award - there just is no substitute for a pat on the back for a job well done. Sometimes we all have a week with little practicing, in that case there is always next week. 

HAVE FUN! Music should be something that you enjoy for a LIFETIME. So, try to put unrealistic expectations on yourself or your children to learn quickly. Everyone learns at a different pace and the key is to be able to enjoy the journey. :)

• From CNN: The importance of music education in schools

• From NPR: “The Power of Music to Affect the Brain”

• Read Joshua Bell's comments on the importance of music education here.

• 11 Facts About Music Education

• Psychology of Music

• Children's Brains Develop Faster With Music Training

Concert Band is open to any student who plays a wind band instrument (woodwind, brass or percussion). Membership in Wind Ensemble requires successful completion of an audition and is open to students who play a wind band instrument (woodwind, brass or percussion). Wind Ensemble is designed for serious musicians who seek advanced musical challenges. Both student ability level and the need to maintain two balanced band ensembles are criteria for student selection to this course. Both the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble spend the first quarter of the year performing as a marching band unit then shift to a traditional “concert band” once the football season ends. Both courses work together to perform as a single Marching Band. In other words, once you enroll in either Concert Band OR Wind Ensemble, you are part of Marching Band. Wind Ensemble's official course title is "Honors Wind Ensemble" and receives "Weighted” Honors GPA Calculation.  The audition process for the 2026-2027 Wind Ensemble will be announced before the end of February 2026. Please check newalbanyband.com for details.

Any student who has not taken Wind Ensemble before should register in Concert Band. If he/she successfully auditions into Wind Ensemble, the directors will work with the office to update the student's schedule.

Yes, all High School band students are in marching band. All students are required to learn the music and marching skills taught during the marching band unit of the course, which concludes at the end of the first grading period. However, weekly assessments determine which students will march during halftime and pre-game shows. Omission from shows does not necessarily hurt the student’s band grade. However, the student does not earn “Varsity Start” points toward band honors and awards.  

If a student is not adequately prepared for performance, he/she may be assigned by the director to serve as an “alternate” for that week. He/she will still attend the game in full uniform, perform in the stands and do all other activities associated with the band that night. However, during the pre-game/halftime show, the student will stand at attention and watch the show from the sidelines, or stand still and perform the show music from a fore position on the field (as determined by band staff). The student still receives full credit for attending the game, but does not earn “varsity start” points toward band honors. The following week, the student will have the opportunity to demonstrate readiness for the next week’s performance. Historically, if a student has attended all rehearsals leading up to a performance, he/she nearly always earns a performing spot.

The drumline is a special section that performs a unique function as a part of the marching band and pep band. In order to place students on the proper instrument for the section, annual auditions take place. Each spring, a multi-day clinic is held after school. At the conclusion of the clinic, auditions are held to determine placements for drum line. Students who do not attend the audition are given last priority for part assignments. All students who have played percussion as their primary instrument for at least one full school year will be guaranteed a position. Wind players may be permitted to fill positions if there are enough spaces, however priority will be given to full-time percussionists. During the marching band season, the drum line holds one additional 2-hour rehearsal each week to prepare additional music. This past year, practice was held 2:30-4:30pm on Mondays, though it is scheduled each year to best fit into the students' and staff schedules.

Marching Band holds several leading up to the July 4th parade, a short 5-day camp in July and a few rehearsals right before the start of school.  The rest of the summer is open for students to participate in athletics, camps, family vacations, etc. Band Camp is scheduled before the OHSAA fall sports season begins, so involvement in both band camp and a fall sport is possible. Band pictures are scheduled during the summer as well. Up-to-date calendars can be found on the band website by February 1st, 2026.

Band camp is not mandatory, however, it is essential for students to attend to develop the necessary skills to earn weekly performance spots. Occasionally, strong students can miss camp but still earn a spot for a halftime or pre-game show. Students who miss camp and are not ready to perform still attend the performances (games) and serve as alternates during the game (see below). By serving as alternates, they are spared the pressure of performing before ready. 

Many NAHS Band Alumni rate band camp as one of the top memories of high school. It provides an outstanding way to learn the performance material, make new friends and enjoy a focused time working together on music!

For 2026, TBD - however NAMPA is working on fundraising efforts to ensure the price is less than $400.00. 

The first few weeks of the school year, there will be one evening rehearsal per week. These are usually Mondays OR Wednesdays, subject to field availability. There is also a dress rehearsal on Fridays from 2:30-4:00 p.m. Most other schools' marching bands have between 8-10 hours of out-of-school practices per week, but force students to choose between participation in band and other activities/sports. We set our out-of-school time to a minimum to make it possible for the most students to participate. Therefore, full attendance is essential at our small number of after school rehearsals. We feel strongly that active participation in many school activities (including sports, clubs, service organizations, etc.) provides the best experience for high school students. Therefore we work very hard to make involvement in multiple school organizations possible. 

Yes. Marching Band and Color Guard members may pick up a physical education waiver from the guidance office and have it signed by the band director at the conclusion of the marching band season (late October). Two waivers total (two separate years or used in combination with a waiver from a varsity sport) can fulfill the student's physical education requirement. To qualify, the student have been an active participant the entire season: excessive absences or long-term "non-performance" situations may prevent a student from qualifying for the waiver. 

In order to support the activities and events of the band program, many parent volunteers are needed throughout the year. The parent association meets monthly (typically the 1st Wednesday of each month) for an hour to coordinate event volunteers, fundraising ideas and other band-support activities. This are an outstanding team of caring parents who enjoy working with the band kids (and put up with the staff)!

Once marching band season ends, high school band has a much calmer activity schedule. The core classes (Concert Band and Honors Wind Ensemble) perform about 3 more concerts and sometimes elect to go to Ohio Music Education Association Contest. The Jazz Band typically has 3-4 additional performances per year. All high school band students perform on a rotating basis in the Pep Band. Students elect which performances/games to attend, but there are minimum performance requirements to be met during the year.

• Jazz Band meets before school on designated days from 7:00-7:35am. This group performs several times during the year at concerts and other special events. Jazz Band received 1/2 credit as a "0 period" class. Concurrent enrollment in either Concert Band or Wind Ensemble is required to participate in Jazz Band.

• Pep Band (not credited) meets outside the school day at a schedule set by the director. Typically, the Pep Band plays at the powderpuff game (homecoming week), 8-10 basketball games and a few other school events. Each band member is required to attend a predetermined number of performances during the year to go toward their 2nd semester exam grade.

• Pit Orchestra for the HS Musical is extra-curricular and selected by audition based upon the instrumentation needs of the show. Details are announced once the show has been selected.

• OMEA Solo/Ensemble Adjudicated Events are open to students in the HS band course. Students can work with their private lesson teacher to prepare a solo or small ensemble to receive an adjudicated evaluation from an outside music educator.

This list was confirmed by the NAPLS Administrative Offices in Jan. 2015

• Marching Band - No Fee (because it is a sub-component of a credited course)

• Color Guard - $125 Activity Fee (it is entirely extra-curricular)

• Jazz Band - No Fee (because it is a class)

• Pep Band - No Fee (because it is a sub-component of a class)

• Physical Education Fee Waiver - No Fee

Eagle Guard tryouts are in May each year for one week.  The dates of tryouts and clinics are advertised in April at both the high school and middle school.  During this week of tryouts, Monday - Wednesday will be two hour long clinics.  Clinics are designed to teach and practice all of the skills that will be judged at tryouts.  Thursday of that week will be tryouts.  Students try out in groups of 4.  Tryout results will be posted on Friday.  There is no pre-determined number of students selected each year.  

Once the squad is selected, there are practices twice a week in the summer with just the Color Guard where we work on skills and routines.  The Color Guard also participates in all of the pre-camp, band camp, and post camp practices with the Marching Band.  Once school starts, practices are once a week after school as well as Fridays with the Marching Band after school prior to Friday night performances.  Color Guard members must be available to rehearse with the band during a band class period during the fall, so they may either take a Study Center during the same period as a band class or they may also enroll in a band class and play an instrument for the remainder of the year. 

Our dance and color guard program nurtures high school students into well-rounded individuals and leaders. Through the art of dance, color guard, and marching band, we aim to provide a supportive and engaging environment where students can develop their skills, create lasting memories with their peers, and prepare for their next adventure after graduation.

We value adaptability, encouraging students to embrace change and grow through diverse experiences. Our commitment to community fosters a sense of belonging and teamwork, while our focus on inclusivity ensures that every student feels welcomed and valued. We uphold professionalism by instilling discipline, respect, and excellence in our program. Together, these values empower our students to succeed in our program and their future endeavors.

Professionalism: Building Future Leaders

We cultivate young professionals who represent the New Albany Band with pride and respect. Our students learn the importance of conduct and presentation, ensuring our program remains a respected pillar of the community and equipping them for future success. Beyond musical and performance skills, we instill professional habits in our students. This focus on responsible conduct and respectful interaction enhances our program and provides a vital foundation for their future academic and professional journeys.

Adaptability: Thriving in Dynamic Environments

Preparedness meets flexibility. While we meticulously plan our performances, we empower our students to adapt quickly and gracefully to the dynamic environment of Friday Night Football and beyond —a crucial skill for success in any endeavor. Our rigorous preparation equips students with the technical skills and showmanship needed for success. More importantly, the fast-paced nature of performances cultivates agility and adaptability – essential life skills that empower them to navigate any challenge confidently.

Community: Connecting and Contributing

Rooted in gratitude, we actively serve and contribute to the New Albany community. We believe in being more than just a part of it; we strive to be meaningful contributors, fostering strong connections and a sense of belonging. We sincerely appreciate our community's support and actively seek opportunities to give back. By fostering a spirit of service and engagement, we aim to strengthen our community bonds and instill in our students the value of civic responsibility.

Inclusivity: A Place for Everyone to Shine 

Everyone who wants to learn, grow, and dance is welcome here. Eagle Guard is a supportive and encouraging space where students of all levels can explore color guard, dance, and spirit activities together. Our inclusive environment ensures every member feels valued and can pursue their interests. Whether you're a seasoned performer or trying something new, Eagle Guard offers a welcoming and supportive environment for all New Albany High School students. We celebrate diverse talents and encourage everyone to explore their potential in a fun and inclusive setting.

Learn more at this link.