In addition to being an advisor on musical strategy for the Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization, music teacher Saroj Bunmuang is the man who brought the marching band to Phothisamphan Phitthayakhan School.
He started the band five years ago when the school had no musical instruments. He requested funds from the Chonburi PAO to purchase what was needed, which initially encountered resistance.
Music teacher Saroj Bunmuang (back row, center) is most proud of the Phothisamphan Phitthayakhan School band winning the HRH Princess Soamsawalee trophy at the 6th Melodeon Music Fair to honor HM the King.
He admitted it was quite tiring starting a marching band because the school administration didn’t initially back the idea. However, he did not give up as he had continued to look for support for organizing activities until he had finally received support from the province.
The point of the band, he said, is to serve the community and develop activities for students. Chonburi eventually supplied the funds in order to help youths better utilize their free time, he said.
Saroj believes that a marching band requires a lot of patience for training. The players have to sincerely love the art, harmonize, and be disciplined, he said. Music helps shape youths to be creative, optimistic, confident and eventually become quality adults in the future.
He said the Phothisamphan Phitthayakhan School band has about 100 members, which some think the large budget required is a waste. But he argues that each different instrument requires a teacher to train students. And, he said he believes the activity is invaluable because talented youths are the future of the nation. “I believe in all my students,” Saroj said.
He said he is most proud of the Phothisamphan Phitthayakhan School band being awarded the HRH Prince’s Cup from the Melodeon Association. The band practiced for the competition for more than five months, ultimately making a name for the school, Saroj said.
As a Phothisamphan Phitthayakhan alumni himself, he was proud of making the school famous. “I would like to tell my students that no matter what they do, if they work hard, are determined and put in their all for what they do, they will succeed,” Saroj said.
Ed’s Note: Saroj Bunmuang was recently the victim of a road rage shooting (see page 4 for details). He survived, and we at Pattaya Mail wish him a speedy recovery.
