Mrs. Honsey

Band = Brain Power!

High School Band Director

My name is Jessica Honsey and I am in my 25th year teaching High School Band, 24 of which have been spent in here in Stewartville. I graduated from Waseca High School in 1995, from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1999, and completed my Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia, St. Paul in 2012.

My husband Dave and I reside here in Stewartville with our youngest son, Ryan (10). Our two older children, also SHS graduates, are Blake (32) and Blair (28). Blake and his fiancé Sarah reside in Waseca; Blair and her husband Kyle Hildebrandt reside in Duluth.

Contact Information: 533-1693; jessica.honsey@ssdtigers.org

My Philosophy:

I believe Music is good for the soul. It makes people happy, thus improving their quality of life. Participating in band teaches life skills that are necessary to prepare you to be a high-functioning member of society: Hard work, discipline, responsibility, creativity, and cooperation. So congratulations parents! You have encouraged your child to be involved in one of the most important classes they will ever take.

This is an excerpt from my research paper, Music and the Human Brain:

According to Fick & Schilts (2006), playing music requires complex feedback systems that take in information, such as pitch and melody, through the auditory cortex (1) and allow the performer to adjust his or her playing. The visual cortex (2) is activated by reading – or even imagining – a score; the parietal lobe (3) is involved in a number of processes, including computation of finger positions; the motor cortex (4) helps control body movements; the sensory cortex (5) is stimulated with each touch of the instrument; the pre-motor area (6) remains somewhat mysterious but help perform movements in the correct order and time; the frontal lobe (7) plans and coordinates the overall activity; and the cerebellum (8) helps create smooth, integrated movements. (p. 35) Not only does playing music engage the brain in a barrage of ways, so does, more specifically, learning to play an instrument. According to Weinberger (2000): In learning to play a musical instrument, at least the following brain systems and processes are engaged: (a) sensory and perceptual–auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic; (b) cognitive-symbolic and score reading; (c) planning; (d) motor actions—fine muscle and gross muscle coordination; (e) emotional/motivational; (f) learning; (g) memory; and (h) feedback and evaluation of music produced. The entire process then repeats, vitually every few seconds (p. 9). These brain systems sometimes operate in parallel and sequentially. The brain is always on. The brain coordinates, plans, problem solves and organizes musical thoughts (sequential) all while thinking creatively, emotionally, and with feeling (parallel).

Music is an intellectual stimulant and it is time that its benefits are no longer overlooked.

Teacher Schedule

7:50 Marching/Symphonic Band (10th-12th Grade)

8:43 Concert Band (9th Grade)

9:36 8th Grade Band

10:30-1:30 - Daily Lessons (15 minute increments)

1:38-2:27 - Prep Time (best time to call)

2:31 - Wrap-Up (available for make-up lessons)

HS Band Concert Dates (See the Syllabus and Pep Band Schedule below for additional dates.)

Thursday, Oct. 27th - HS Gym - 7:30 pm

Monday, Jan. 29th - PAC - 7:30 pm

Friday, May 17th - PAC - 7:30 pm (formal)