The Glossary

The Reagan Project

In the Spring of 2022 as a volunteer, I cosmetically-restored Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band’s sousaphones, baritones, marching horns and mellophones. I also helped refresh the brass ensemble’s instruments before their Fall 2022 marching season. I’ve gone-on to do this each year since. The experience inspired me to offer my services to NEISD schools, and serves as my model when considering how to serve music programs in the future. I cannot speak highly-enough of Reagan’s directors, staff and student leadership; they embody what makes music education so special.

When a student opens their instrument case expecting to see that familiar, uninspiring instrument, yet instead sees their own reflection in it, it’s a pretty special moment. A brand-new instrument may be without flaw, but when an instrument that has served a school for decades comes back to life…it means a great deal more to them. It also presents the opportunity to teach students how to not only maintain the instrument’s new condition, but how to prepare for their performances with pride and esprit de-corps.

This gallery will begin with horns of all types that show their pre-restored condition. You will eventually see the horns in their transformed condition. Many of these horns are as old as the High School itself.

If you are a band director (be it indoor or outdoor) who wishes to add cosmetic life to your inventory of brass instruments and seize an opportunity to reinforce pride and uniformity amongst your sections, I would love to help.