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Rushe Middle School Student Has Got The Music In Him

Tribune photo by FRED BELLET

Dylan Waddle, 13, recently played with the Florida Bandmasters Association's Middle School Honor Band and will play with the county's honor band Jan. 31.

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By MEGAN HUSSEY

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 25, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - Two years ago, Dylan Waddle was a beginning band student at Rushe Middle School with a casual interest in music.

The eighth-grader has come a long way. He plays 10 instruments and recently sat as first chair alto saxophonist and a soloist in the Florida Music Educators/Florida Bandmasters Association Middle School Honor Band.

The competition was tough to make the 128-member band, made up of students from throughout the state. They played for about 1,000 people Jan. 10 at the Tampa Convention Center.

"When I saw my name on the first chair, I was so excited," said 13-year-old Dylan, who plays in the concert and jazz bands at Rushe Middle. "I had no idea I had done so well."

He also has been selected to play in the Pasco County Honor Band, which will perform its annual concert Saturday at River Ridge Middle/ High School.

"When I play music I like to hear what comes out of my instrument," he said. "My imagination paints a picture of the story the music might be telling."

Aside from the saxophone, Dylan plays the bassoon, string instruments such as the hammer and mountain dulcimers, and the Autoharp, the recorder, the keyboard and the penny whistle. Many of the instruments, he taught himself to play.

Coming from a family of musicians helps. Dad Kevin plays the electric guitar, and his mom, Charlotte, is a violinist.

"My mom is the person who encouraged me to get into band," he said. "I don't think I would be in band if it wasn't for her."

Grandfather Charles Taylor plays the guitar and mandolin.

"Grandpa and I like to get together and play a few songs," Dylan said.

Despite his musical background, Dylan said he wasn't a serious musical student until recently. Now, you often can find him in the Rushe band room, playing everything from "Sentimental Journey" - big-band musicians such as Benny Goodman are among his favorites -to The Beatles' "Hey Jude," and the theme from a James Bond movie.

"He's a fine young musician," said Karen Crocco, band director at Rushe. "He reads music well, has an outstanding tone and is both a good soloist and a team player. He has no weaknesses that I can see."

Dylan credits Crocco for her motivation and inspiration, and said his band experience has won him many friends with similar interests. He hopes to play professionally in an orchestra and write music.

"It's opened up a whole new world for me," he said. "I think that band is beneficial to just about everybody if they get started at a young age. It provides opportunities for careers in the future."

Keyword: Dylan Waddle, to hear Dylan play.

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