"Do not slow down until you get to measure 23. Do not slow down. We are fortissimo," said Jim Lykins, Northwestern's musical director at a Tuesday after-school rehearsal. And he wasn't kidding.

If winter is a time of quiet and hibernation, then spring is a time of action and rebirth, and the high school band is in lockstep.

After a long winter of missed rehearsals due to weather, the 54-member band rehearsed for their spring concert every Monday over Flex time and every Tuesday after school.

"I have some fabulous kids here, absolutely fabulous," Lykins said. "As this group gets through, the band will get bigger."

Northwestern Elementary School Music Director Shawn Fies, echoed Lykins' sentiment.

"These kids are fantastic, but then I'm a little biased," he said.

Fies signed up to be Lykins' assistant, coming to the high school for small group instruction.

Junior Ben Fructl is a case in point.

Fructl auditioned and was selected to perform as part of District Band.

"It definitely was a very interesting experience," he said. "I housed with two other clarinet players and they were fantastic. It was great being with them and increase my expertise."

Lykins also selected five students to play in the County Band.

The five included Fructl, on clarinet; senior Alissa Smith, tenor sax; freshmen Kayla Mitman, oboe; Ashleigh Bottazzi and Jarod Kensinger, clarinet.

This event took place in Catasaqua in early March.

Lykins continued to acknowledge his other band members.

"I think [Zach McDonald] plays every bass instrument and he also plays bass guitar. Adriana Batres played soprano clarinet but now she's playing the trumpet," Lykins said.

"When I was a kid I listened a lot to Louis Armstrong. I thought jazz was the best thing since sliced bread," said McDonald, who also plays with Pioneer Band of Allentown.

"I [was] introduced to the tuba and that's where I settled down. It's where I really fit in."

As far as percussion goes, "Noah Seng-Delong is probably the best reader I've had," Lykins said.

Seng-Delong, a drummer, has been playing since the fifth grade.

Seng-Delong said band provides "more chances to express yourself and find what you like to do.

"This is my first year back. When Mr. Lykins came back, I came back. It's been great."

And then there is Morgan Moss.

"I can't describe her abilities," said Lykins, about the pianist. "She learned to play the flute in a week, played all the way to the end of the book. Morgan arranges [music] like a madman."

For the spring concert, Moss said she "arranged a medley of different movie themes called 'Misfits and Miscellaneous of Great Themes.'"

The piece combines the music from "Star Wars," "Harry Potter," "Indiana Jones" and "The Incredibles."

According to Moss, she always arranges for piano, but she wanted to branch out.

"I started arranging last year around Christmas time," she said. "It's like taking a piece of music that already exists and putting it in your own musical words or style."

With these talented musicians, Lykins said, "I am rebuilding the program but it's a very large task. Investing time is critical."

"I went from concert band to jazz band and it seemed like I never got home in the fall right into late November. Because the football team went to states, we naturally went along. We go wherever the football team goes," Lykins said.

But that experience only added to the band's growing pride.

"Bieber Bus donated transportation to the final two playoff games for the band, the football team and the cheerleaders," said Lykins. "I think they ran about five buses. We rode in style [and] even had little TVs. The kids were really proud."

Lykins could not say enough about the support he and the band have been given from every quarter.

"This entire district has been incredibly supportive," he said. "Jason Zimmerman is the guy who I work with all the time, [on everything] from scheduling to purchasing. He's incredibly supportive."

Lykins praised administrative support as well.

"I got new chairs, new stereo, new paint. They fixed all the doors," he said.

"We have a fabulous band booster organization. They cleaned and organized the band closet where uniforms, hats and flags are stored," Lykins stated. "About 18 of them show up consistently but Eileen Fructl and Sheryl Barron were the two forces behind it all. They just mopped this place up.

"All of this gives the instrumental students a sense of pride and a sense of purpose," said Lykins.

"If this stuff is getting done, they know that they matter."

"I don't have any children of my own, so these are my kids," said Lykins.

"I keep in contact with a lot of kids that have already graduated college. You can't describe what being a teacher I like. There really is no other profession like ours."

Lykins started teaching at the middle school in the year 2000.

"I drove truck for many years and I started my own improvement business," he said. "I did that while I worked my way through college."

"I have been performing music since before I could write. My entire family played instruments," he said. "My mother was a pianist and she played many, many years. I sang in church when I was 5."

He started playing trumpet when he was in the fourth grade.

"Right now I'm picking my marching band. Next year's music will be The Grand Illusion, featuring the music from Styx. The show is named after their first album," he said.

"The kids are the ones that asked for it. They are not typical when it comes to music they really love, and they love the harmonics of the past."

"I think music is critical to a well rounded education. Music kids consistently score higher on any standardized test," Lykins said. "[Music] engages every part of your brain at the same time."