Category Archives: Features

Allison Werner, Features

Music joins family and friends: Q&A with Phil Thomas

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By Allison Werner

Editor’s Note: This is an addition to a story published in the print publication.

Q&A session with Highland Hills Middle School band director Phil Thomas.

Phil Thomas: I am the band director at HHMS, the assistant director of the FC marching band, and I am also the director of the IUS concert band. I am also the assistant bugler at Churchill Downs! This is my 28th year teaching band in the NA-FC schools.

Bagpiper: When did you see Christian take an interest in music?

PT: Christian showed an interest in music at a very early age. He has always loved to sing. Being a band director and a musician myself, we always had instruments sitting around the house, especially brass instruments. Christian always loved to get his hands on them and experiment with making sounds.

BP: How does your musical background influence Christian?

PT: I think my musical background (as well as my wife’s) has influenced Christian in that there has always been music in our house. Since infancy, he heard either recorded or live music played at home practically every day. As he has gotten older, I think that my musical background has helped guide and coach him in his musical pursuits. Although at times, I am sure it has been a little frustrating for Christian having a professional musician and brass player living in the same house. He can tell you how many times he has been practicing in our basement at home only to have the basement door open and hear “Your second positions are a little low!” or “Are you sure you don’t want to run that last section again, SLOWER?” What I would have given to have a live-in brass coach at my house when I was growing up! (I guess it’s different when it’s your dad though.)

BP: How much time does music take up in Christian’s life?

PT: Music takes up a great deal of Christian’s time. I am sure he has told you about all of the groups in which he plays. This is on top of weekly trombone and piano lessons (and the practicing that goes along with them) as well as his own private students. And of course he is also one the FC pipers. All of the serious musicians at this school put in that kind of time though. It is what they love and what they do. As my wife and I have told Christian: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

BP: Were you always hoping your son would be involved with music?

PT: When Christian was growing up, we tried to make a conscious effort to not force him into music. We got him involved in a variety of activities and let him gravitate to what he enjoyed the most. Although, truth be told, I must admit that I am glad that it worked out to be music. It is especially enjoyable when Christian and I get the opportunity to perform together, such as in the pit orchestra for a musical or in the IUS orchestra.

BP: Do you have high expectations when it comes to music?

PT: Yes, I do have high expectations when it comes to music, both as a director and a performer. It is a very demanding discipline, but there is no greater reward for a musician than to perform challenging music extremely well.

PT: As far as anything else to add, I would just like to say how proud I am of my son and all of his musical accomplishments over the years. I am also very proud of the fact that he plans on majoring in music (and history) in college with the plan of one day being a Marine Band musician.

Bryce Romig, Features

Tips lead to better spring break fitness

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By Bryce Romig

It’s that time of year again. The time of year where everyone hits the tanning salon, buys a gym membership, and gears up for spring break.  With all of the fitness and health myths out there, it’s hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Are you ready to look great and be in the best shape of your life? Follow these tips and you’ll be beach ready in no time.

  • Stay Hydrated. The human body is composed 80 percent water, and it’s no surprise that staying hydrated is extremely important. The rule of thumb most people go by is eight glasses of water a day, but according to MayoClinc, the average human needs about 12 cups of water a day. Water also helps clear the skin of any blemishes or pimples and give you energy when you’re tired. If you don’t like water, try drinking tea or coconut water. They both have many antioxidants that help you stay hydrated.
  • Get Active. Ditch the computer and cell phone, and get moving. If you have a gym membership try to go at least three times a week and focus on different muscle groups each time.  No gym? No problem.  There are many free and effective exercise programs on the internet and each will help whip you into shape. Exercise tones and trims body fat, along with releasing endorphins that boost your mood and fight depression. My suggestion is POP Pilates with abs for a fun way to get active.
  • Eat clean. We’ve all heard those scary words before, cut out all junk food. Try making small changes such as not using condiments, not drinking sodas, and not eating chips and then work your way up to the big stuff. Try to steer clear of all high sodium, high sugar foods. Think organic and not processed foods. Don’t forget the rule of thumb; moderation not deprivation. Eating healthy doesn’t have to mean cutting out your favorite foods, it simply means knowing when and how much you eat. Your skin replaces itself every 30 days out of the food you eat, what you eat literally becomes you.
  • Get adequate sleep. Our parents bug us all the time to turn the computer off and go to bed, but for some reason we can’t get off and end up staying up past midnight sleep deprived the next morning. Sleep is just as important as exercise, as it helps replenish muscles and help with weight loss. Try to go to bed before ten, as falling asleep afterwards can slow your metabolism and lower your energy. Aim to get eight to nine hours of sleep each night, and feel the wonderful benefits of a good night’s rest.
  • Rid of stress. That big test coming up, your boyfriend flirting with other girls, and your parents grounding you over the C you received in your worst subject even after you studied hard. We’ve all dealt with it for years, stress.  If you feel like you have less energy, can’t sleep at night, or have a hard time concentrating you may be dealing with stress. Try joining a local yoga class or buying an at home DVD and doing it three to four times a week. Yoga helps calm and clear the mind due to strict focusing on inner breathing. Yoga also helps clear acne caused by stress, and improves your flexibility enabling you to work out more effectively. Yoga is a great way to relax, and is easily accessible online. 
  • Workout with a friend. Working out with a friend helps keep you motivated to keep working out and have fun doing so. You are less likely to forget exercising if you have plans to do so with a friend. Working out with a friend also helps you push yourself harder as you naturally don’t want to look like a weakling in front of your friends. It also keeps working out fun and gives you something to look forward too. If you’re not ready to work out with a friend, try various exercise videos for all the encouragement of working out with a friend, but in the privacy of your own home.
  • Stay Motivated.  Staying motivated can be a serious challenge. Try making a fitspiration board with your favorite athletes and sayings. Place it next to your bed so you see it often.  Focus on how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go. Remember to always love your body, and be proud of who you are. Nourish your body well and stay active, and watch your body change rapidly. This is the most motivating part, and seeing the changes will keep you on your toes.
Alesha McCulloch, Features

Caffeine impacts students’ daily routine

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By Alesha McCulloch

Caffeine sparks thoughts of energy and wakefulness. Caffeine usually does not have long term physical effects, but when it comes to the teenage body, it can be harmful.

Freshman Nick Carter said, “I love to drink caffeine, until it starts to make my stomach hurt.”

Teens who drink coffee, soft drinks, or energy drinks may suffer from stomach upsets, increased heart rates, and anxiety.

Caffeine defines itself as a drug that many plants naturally produce in their seeds and leaves. It’s considered a stimulant and is found in many foods and beverages.

Most teens consume their caffeine in the forms of soda, energy drinks, coffee, and tea.

“I drink a McDonald’s sweet tea every morning before school because it makes me awake and full,” said sophomore Donnie Campbell.

Caffeine can be addictive. Teens can become addicted to caffeine, which is becoming a serious problem that affects millions of teenagers daily.

When teens have caffeine addiction, they usually do not notice it. Your body will just naturally want more and more of it. Caffeine addiction is common with many teens today.

According to doctors, caffeine is one of the most psychoactive drugs to be found in the world, which means it’s a drug that can produce mood changes.

“I notice that when I drink caffeine, I get really hyper and want to jump and fiddle around” said sophomore Dylan Paris.

Caffeine is also known as a stimulant. Meaning it can affect your sleeping schedule. It increases feelings of alertness and may help you stay awake when you’re tired. But most teens already do not get enough sleep as it is, causing them to stay awake at night and feeling exhausted the next day.

Blake Dykes, Features

Students find creative ways to ask dates to prom

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By Blake Dykes

Prom is an exciting time for many upperclassmen, but the dance itself is not the only good part. Beyond the planning, preparing for the big day, and making after-prom plans, getting asked to prom makes it pretty high up on the list.

Being asked to prom whether it be by a boyfriend or just friend calls for creativity.

Senior Will Mayberry spent lots of time planning how to ask out his Lanseville girlfriend senior Chelsea Roy. 

“I took her to LaBocca on Valentine’s Day, and I had went to the restaurant the day before and remade one of their menus. The menu said ‘LaBocca Authentic Italian Cuisine,’ on the front, and then on the inside it said, ‘Speciality for tonight… Will you go to prom with me?’I had a check box for ‘yes’ and another for ‘yes’.”

Mayberry said that her reaction was completely surprised and extremely happy because he had thought it out.

However, Mayberry was not the only one who spent some time thinking about how to ask out his date.

Junior Courtney Crombie’s boyfriend, senior Alex Byer, completely surprised her.

“He told me we were going on a surprise date, so he took me to eat at Bravo in Louisville, and then we went to see Safe Haven. After that he made me close my eyes until we got to this empty lot in Plum Hill. He walked me out there and told me to open my eyes. In big letters he had cut out PROM? and stuck them in the ground. He had glued pictures of us on the letters.”

While some people asked their dates to prom outside of school, others decided to pop the question during school hours.

Senior Gavin Horner asked his date, senior Samantha Goode, on their way to study hall Feb 14. Horner brought Goode into the MPR room and had a dozen roses laid out and a Powerpoint. The Powerpoint contained a slide with pictures of them and him asking her to go to prom.

“She is kind of shy, so I didn’t want to embarrass her by asking in front of a lot of people.”

Although most people spend lots of times thinking about unique ways to ask their dates to prom, senior Ted Hartog came up with something only 20 minutes prior to asking.

“I didn’t think I was going to prom at all 20 minutes before I asked her [senior Sarah Taylor]. Then my friend said she needed a date and that I should ask Sarah. Then within 10 minutes I had a plan. Mr. Street let me use a plain white T shirt from the store and I wrote ‘prom?’ with a marker on it. Then I grabbed a jacket and walked into the office to ask her since she’s an office worker. The girl’s distracted her and I walked up and ripped open my jacket.”

Whether someone takes weeks of planning or just a couple of minutes, there are many creative ways of asking.

A&E, Features, Guest Reporters, Live Blogging, Online Only, Spotlight

The Big Apple: live blogging from senior Jared Murray

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By Jared Murray

Guest Reporter

It’s 5:05 am on Feb. 28, and we are only in Pennsylvania after sitting in traffic for two hours waiting for a wreck to be cleared. The kids in the back are laughing hysterically, attempting to recreate musical numbers from Pitch Perfect, and going slightly insane from lack of sleep and possibly considering canibalism due to severe hunger pains. The adults in the front are probably frowning at us, wishing they could put us to sleep for the rest of the trip. After that exhausting two hours of waiting for a plethora of fire trucks to put out a flaming semi, I’m ready to sleep for the rest of the ride up, but I doubt that will happen now that everyone is riled up about how close we are. And if you’re still wondering, we haven’t resorted to eating each other. . . Yet.

Make sure to keep checking the Bagpiper Online for more updates on our travels!