Pingree's music assemblies never fail to impress, offering an array of musical talent that spans original compositions, classical masterpieces, and everything in between. Yet one performance stood out this fall—a collaborative music video that unexpectedly became the day's highlight, earning enthusiastic toe-taps from the audience.
This standout performance was born from Pingree’s innovative music lab courses—introductory electives designed to welcome aspiring musicians. These beginner-friendly classes provide a low-pressure, high-reward space for students to explore new instruments and discover the joy of making music.
“One of the driving motivators for the lab classes is to provide a space where students can develop the skills and confidence to play in public,” said Brooke Joynes, who leads the Piano Lab and Vocal Lab courses. She also acknowledged how intimidating it can be for beginners to perform in front of an audience and noted that the courses aim to ease those nerves while still celebrating each student’s progress.
In the three years that they’ve been offered, these courses have become a popular on-ramp to the school’s musical ensembles, helping students with no prior experience overcome hesitation about joining.
“Oftentimes, students feel that if they haven't played an instrument by high school, then it's too late and they can't play anymore,” said Art Department Chair Eric Haltmeier. “Our hope is that a student can come into Pingree without any musical experience, start an instrument in lab elective as a 9th grader, and potentially reach an APEX-level class as a senior.”
Phil McGowan, who teaches the Percussion and Guitar Lab courses, explained that these classes are specifically designed for students starting from scratch, with the goal of giving them the immediate joy of creating music. “We want students to feel comfortable experimenting with their instruments and expressing themselves,” he said.
This fall, that spirit of joy and discovery culminated in a collaborative project between the piano, percussion, and guitar/bass lab classes. The idea sparked during an early Piano Lab session when Joe Gaffney ’25 suggested learning Harold Faltermeyer’s iconic "Axel F"—the theme from Beverly Hills Cop, which experienced a resurgence in the early-2000s with a remix by Crazy Frog.
While Joynes initially saw the idea as ambitious, the enthusiasm from her students and McGowan’s classes quickly evolved into a full-fledged project. Using Soundtrap, a digital audio workstation, students recorded their individual parts, and McGowan edited and mixed the final track.
To reduce the pressure of live performance, Joynes and McGowan partnered with the Communications Department to film each class as they practiced. This footage, combined with the complete recording of “Axel F,” resulted in a performance video that was screened during the school’s music assembly. According to McGowan, the final video not only showcased the student’s musical progress but also highlighted the strong sense of teamwork that developed throughout the project.
"I think they were more excited than they expected," said Joynes. "It looked amazing, and it sounded awesome."
Reflecting on the project, McGowan noted how rewarding it was to see students supporting one another and taking pride in their accomplishments, an experience that perfectly captured the spirit of Pingree’s music lab courses.
Pingree’s music lab courses continue to inspire students to step out of their comfort zones, proving that it’s never too late to start making music—and that the results can be extraordinary.
To watch the music lab video, please click the link: Axel F: Music Lab Collaboration Video