That was Ode to Joy, as performed by former students of Arvada’s new band director Justin Elks, this week’s guest on Who’s Behind the Bulldog?  Justin teaches Jazz Band, Piano, Orchestra, Guitar, and Concert Band.  He is also getting the marching and pep bands rolling again.

In our conversation, Justin discusses how he’s making band work in our world of COVID, including marching band and pep band as well as figuring out how to do band remotely.  He talks about how he instills fun and excitement into his classes and likes to focus on the whole child and show his own human side in forming relationships.