Prier: Life lessons are taught through music

Editor’s Note: When the new school year begins this week, Holly Prier will be at the podium ready to lead the Clear Lake High School instrumental music program. An article written by Angie Hagerty for Iowa State University’s Script & Score magazine, discusses Prier’s own high school band experience, her rise to become drum major at ISU, and life lessons she hopes to teach with music.  The following features excerpts from Hagerty’s original story, as well as comments Prier shared upon her arrival in Clear Lake.

The snow crunched under Holly Prier’s feet as she trudged through the parking lot toward the Emmetsburg High School doors. It was February 2016, just a few days after a heavy snowfall covered northwest Iowa under a blanket of white.

Prier had recently earned her degree in music education from Iowa State and was in town to interview for a band director position. Despite the frosty introduction to Emmetsburg, Prier received a warm reception from school administrators during the job interview. As the interview progressed, Prier could feel her previously carved out career plans melting away.

“I had always envisioned myself teaching in Ames or Des Moines,” she said. “However, I was quickly charmed by Emmetsburg, impressed with the supportive administration and so excited about the possibilities of this job, which entailed rebuilding the band program.”

Prier left the interview feeling excited about the job and had barely left the northwest Iowa town of 4,000 when she got the call offering her the job.

Michael Golemo, professor of music and director of bands at Iowa State, said Prier was a sound choice for the position.

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“Holly has quickly emerged as a leader in instrumental music education in her region,” said Golemo. “I fully expect her to quickly become a leader in the state of Iowa.”

Marching toward

a leadership role

The experience, education and leadership skills that Prier brought to the table during her job interview in Emmetsburg began to take shape in the fall of 2011, during the first weeks of her freshman year at Iowa State.

Prier arrived at Iowa State confident that she wanted to major in education and work with students. However, she was less certain about joining the Iowa State University Cyclone Football ‘Varsity’ Marching Band.

“Initially, I questioned if my small-town experiences playing flute in the North Linn High School marching band would measure up to ISU marching band standards,” she said.

Prier’s entire high school marching band had 22 members. The notion of joining a 350-person marching band that would play in front of 60,000 screaming fans at Jack Trice Stadium felt a bit overwhelming. Prier set aside her trepidation and joined the ISU marching band during the fall of her freshman year as one of 22 piccolo players.

“I tell my current students this, because what I learned is so important. It doesn’t matter if you come from a small town. It’s more important to arrive and be coachable, teachable and willing to adapt.”

With her previous doubts in the rear-view mirror, Prier thrived in marching band and was quickly named a guide for the piccolo section. Guides motivate and lead their fellow section members while creating a positive, fun atmosphere within the section. Her outgoing personality and organizational skills were a perfect fit for the leadership role. After enjoying a taste of band leadership, Prier applied for drum major at the end of her sophomore year. Drum majors have important responsibilities within the Cyclone marching band. They lead and conduct band members during performances, play a key role in organizing band practices and they also teach new band members how to march, among other responsibilities. Only three are selected each year; and they are viewed as vital mentors and leaders by fellow bandmates and music faculty members.

“Fall in love with the process and the process will love you back”

Prier was a drum major during her junior and senior years, when she also played the piccolo in the pep band during the basketball games. She describes these chapters of her ISU experience as a pivotal time in which she honed her leadership skills, forged strong friendships and created cherished memories.

One of her most memorable marching band moments happened during her senior year at the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game. Iowa State clinched the win at Kinnick Stadium during the last seconds, with a field goal.  “I was standing on a ladder conducting the band, so I had such a great vantage point,” said Prier.   “We played the fight song seven times in a row that day. The band director kept signaling to keep it going. I remember noticing the freshmen who were new to the band and still figuring it all out, as well as older band members. It was a moment of pure joy for everyone that I will never forget.”

Prier gleaned life lessons and wisdom during her time at Iowa State that continue to influence her today.

“Matt Campbell, the ISU football coach is famous for saying, ‘If you fall in love with the process, the process will love you back,’” she said. “That is exactly what happened in marching band. I fell in love with the process of showing up and doing the work every day, and because of that I enjoyed so many experiences.”

Prier has made a point to pass on this philosophy to her own marching band students. “I encourage my students to love the process and to focus on the growth day in and day out and to embrace the work it takes to create music.”

Banding together

Like she did at Emmetsburg, Prier has been holding band practices prior to the start of the school year.  But unlike Emmetsburg, where there were just 24 students in the band her first year, she said she has inherited a strong program in Clear Lake.

“It’s a healthy program here with 95 students in band— and that’s all Brandon,” said Prier, tipping her hat to Brandon Borseth, who resigned to become Dean of Students at Clear Creek Elementary. “I teach fundamentals a little differently and do drills a little different, so we have mostly been getting used to each other in our first week.”

As a fellow North Iowa band director Prier and Borseth are familiar with each other and Prier said Borseth encouraged her to consider coming to Clear Lake.

“It wasn’t that I was looking to move on, but truthfully I have always enjoyed Clear Lake.  Ironically, I performed with the Celebration Iowa Singers here back in 2010 and at that time I professed I would live here some day!”

Life lessons through music lessons

As Prier prepares band members for solo and ensemble performances, some of the students experience the typical concerns and fears that accompany stage performances in front of large audiences. Prier is always quick with kind advice, thoughtful insights and important lessons.

“They want to know what happens if they bomb their solo and I tell them ‘your mom will still love you and I will still want you in band and you will learn from it,’” she said.  “I help them work through their emotions and I tell them that someday they will have a job interview or they will have to present in front of someone at work, and this is why we do this - to teach them life skills.”

Students have noted that Prier’s advice about her own ISU experiences increased his confidence.

“I have told them, ‘I did it, and I was from a small school and you can do it, too,’” said Prier.

ISU remains instrumental in her success

Prier describes her ISU academic experiences as “first rate” and “critical in helping me to prepare for a career as a band director.”

“Every teacher I had was top notch,” said Prier. “My music classes were taught by talented, accomplished professors, many with whom I still maintain contact.”

She often reconnects with Sonja Giles, associate professor of music, to ask for advice or to run ideas by her.

“Dr. Giles is the most positive person I know and she cares so much about her students. She has greatly influenced how I instruct my own students,” said Prier.

Likewise, Giles expresses an admiration for Prier’s work ethic, character and engaging teaching style.

“Holly is a dynamic person who draws students, like a magnet, to music and to herself,” said Giles. “She loves teaching, music and people and she is the best kind of teacher. She is the ‘real deal.’”

“I can reach out to my professors and they’re always willing to help, answer questions or provide insight,” said Prier. “Being a graduate of Iowa State means that there’s always talented, good people to ask for help and those professors are there for you even after you graduate.”

Prier enjoys bringing her students to the Iowa State campus where she attended classes, studied music education and learned important life lessons on and off the marching band field.

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