Growing up in a musical household, Philip Claussen, the new student teacher for the band classes, developed a strong interest in music.

“I grew up in a house of musicians. My dad was a middle school band director actually, and my mom played horn,” Claussen said. “Being surrounded and immersed in music as a kid really allowed me to develop a passion.”

Claussen said studying music has been a part of his life from the beginning.

“I’ve been in choirs for as long as I can remember, like church choirs and things like that,” Claussen said. “The earliest I remember taking lessons of anything, I took piano lessons.”

Sophomore band student Ben Klepfer said he feels a student teacher in the classroom will help students learn.

“I feel that it will be good to have just another person who is educated in music around the classroom so that Mr. Schmitz doesn’t have to be doing everything,” Klepfer said. “Mr. Schmitz is a busy person and he dedicates a lot of time to us, so I think it will just be helpful to have somebody who can help him out.”

Claussen said he feels being educated about a wide range of instruments plays an important role in assisting students.

“Learning to be a music teacher, you kind of have to know how to make controlled noises at least on every instrument there is, so I can play a lot of things. I’m mostly good with brass instruments,”  Claussen said.

Klepfer said he feels Claussen’s knowledge of brass instruments, particularly the French horn, will help him make a difference in band classes.

“I think he will make the band better. He is a French horn player, and we don’t have many French horn players, so he will be able to help that section out,” Klepfer said.

Claussen said he looks forward to learning about students’ musical interests.

“I’m so excited to learn about all the students and how they have different interests in music,” Claussen said. “That’s one of the things that drives me so much. I’m so passionate about music and I’m interested in seeing what other people’s take on it is.”