A growing number of Palo Alto High School students are creating student bands, exemplifying a shift in how young musicians further their artistic talents beyond the traditional school programs. 

Although there have been student-formed bands in previous years, the number of active bands are increasing, driven by a desire to connect with friends outside of the classroom.

Stanford University freshman Dexter Cleveringa is a drummer for Strother Field, a band formed by students during their time at Paly. Cleveringa said the growth of student bands marks a change from what he experienced during his time in high school.

“During my time at Paly, I felt like there were a lot of talented musicians and people with strong interests in music,” Cleveringa said. “But outside of school bands, not many people took the initiative to form groups on their own or jam with others.”

Segev also said the band has also become a consistent way for him and his friends to spend time together.

“I think it’s just a way for me and my friends to hang out and just have something to do,” Segev said. “It’s very fun. Ever since we started doing it, it’s something I enjoy doing.”

Cleveringa said compared to his time at Paly, more students are sharing their band’s music online too.

“Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of my friends starting to form bands, cover songs and make content,” Cleveringa said. “I think they are utilizing social media more than we used to. It seems to be really effective.”

Junior Daniel Segev, pianist for Paly student band Static Revival, said joining a band gave him the chance to cooperate with other musicians and showcase his own expertise in a cohesive way.

“I’ve been playing piano for a decent amount of time now, but I haven’t really been able to use the skill that I have,” Segev said. “But when I was posed with the opportunity of joining a band, I was delighted and we went to do a couple practice sessions and it was really fun.”

Compared to practicing alone, Segev said practicing with the band requires more focused attention.

“There’s more things you have to pay attention to, like the rhythm and the beat,” Segev said.

Junior Juliet Frick said that she is a fan of all of the bands being formed by her classmates and appreciates hearing their music.

“I think all the bands are really talented, and it’s super cool to see my peers pursue something they’re passionate about,” Frick said. 

Cleveringa said he hopes high school bands appreciate their time playing together and cautions students not to get too caught up on fame or success. 

“I think that the discussion of success is out of the scope of high school bands,” Cleveringa said. “Obviously, everyone wants to make an impact and play great songs, but it is important to remember that the reason we form bands is to play music together and enjoy that experience. Only after that, success can build from cultivated relationships and a collaborative workflow.”