One of the most difficult tasks for an instrumental band instructor is how to keep band members practicing their instruments during the summer months. School is not in session and the lure of playing baseball or softball, hanging out at the swimming pool or roller skating rink or just taking it easy mean no time to practice playing a band instrument. When fall hits, it would be nice to “hit the ground running” with band members being “fine tuned.”

When I was growing up in Superior our high school band instructor, Ralph Spongberg, was well liked and kept a lot of students playing instruments through high school. During the summer there was a City Band which Spongberg directed. Many school students played in it along with funeral director, Wayne Megrue (trumpet), Keith Robinson (trombone), Tom Beckler (trombone) and Rosalie Bryan (clarinet) who was home for the summer from Kearney State Teachers College. Concerts were every Sunday evening at the “Little Park!”

Another group was the Maverick Band composed of musicians from towns along the Nebraska-Kansas border. It was directed by “Ki” Wolf of Kiowa, Kansas. This mobile band would play in various towns and Superior school musicians participated.

I’m sure this extra work helped get me into the UN-L Cornhusker Marching Band after high school. The summer band concerts forced students to play their instruments and keep their skills up.