![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-1200x900.jpg)
Building unity through music
Classrooms merge as students with special needs learn to play music from their peers
Picking up an instrument for the first time, Emma Harris, junior, learns the basics of playing the trumpet and reading music. Harris is a participant of unified band and will play with concert band two at their cadet band festival on April 21.
From blowing air through their horns to playing in a concert setting, months of hard work comes together as unified band students join concert band two on stage.
The idea to bring students who participate in activities such as unified soccer and unified basketball into the band classroom started after being inspired by United Sound, an organization involving students with special needs in music.
The goal of unified band at is to help students with special needs reach a playing level where they can be successful playing with concert band two.
“They’re here to be a part of us,” Kevin Egan, band director said.
Unified band started back in Oct., and the group had their weekly meetings after school on Thursdays. A group of concert band two students met with the unified band students to teach them not only how to play their instruments, but how to read music as well.
“I like being able to help teach others how to play an instrument,” Matt Landstrom, sophomore said. “They like to see themselves improving just as much as we enjoy it.”
The idea of unified band not only helps students with special needs, but it also proved to be a huge chance for growth in concert band two students. Egan’s goal is to teach them that it’s all about the music and anyone can be involved as long as they find a level that works for them.
Due to the success of the unified students, they will join concert band two on stage at their cadet band festival Thursday April 21. After the performance, Egan hopes to continue the unified band program for the remainder of this year as well as years to come.
“I’ll come back next year,” Landstrom said. “I enjoyed it a lot this year and it will give me a chance to see them grow.”
Your donation will support the student journalists of West Linn High School. Your contribution will allow us to continue to produce quality content by purchasing equipment, software, and continuing to host our website on School Newspapers Online (SNO). Additionally, donations will go towards paying for the physical editions of our Amplifier. Donations of $20 dollars (as of Oct. 15, 2025) or more will receive a subscription to our Amplifier, which will be mailed to the donator's address (donations made with the intention of purchasing a subscription CANNOT be anonymous).
Going from soccer practice, to softball practice and then finally home to practice her trumpet, Brooke McKelvey, senior, is definitely not a lazy person....
![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-600x400.jpg)
