Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 19, 1995                   TAG: 9505190065
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

NOTED BAND DIRECTOR SAYS IT'S TIME TO SLOW THE TEMPO

Greg Denton has lost six years of precious time with his daughter, Allison.

He doesn't want to lose more. He doesn't want to keep missing her recitals and other activities.

"My own family doesn't see me," he said. "I average 60 to 70 hours a week on work. It gets tough sometimes."

So, after 13 years, Denton is giving up his job as Northside High School's band director.

The band's boosters understand his decision, but they say his departure will be a loss for the Roanoke County high school.

"It's hard to put into words how much he will be missed," said Jackie Murdock, co-president of the boosters' club. "I've never seen anyone who could get more music out of the students."

Denton loves music too much to leave teaching altogether.

He will remain as band director and music teacher at Northside Middle School (formerly Northside Junior High), a post he also has held for 13 years.

He has been band director and teacher at both Roanoke County schools since he graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1982.

It has been a demanding schedule of band classes at both schools, summer band camps and practices, Friday night football games, marching competitions, concerts and other activities.

During his early years as band director, Denton said he didn't mind the time requirements. "I was straight out of college, and I wasn't married," he said.

But his priorities have changed now that Allison, 6, is growing up, and he wants to spend more time with her and his wife, Debbie.

Because of increasing enrollment, the position of band director and teacher at Northside Middle School will be full-time next year.

Denton had the opportunity to take that job or the high school job, which also will be full-time. He chose the middle school job because it will allow him to spend more time with his family.

"I enjoy teaching at the middle school," Denton said. "It's fun to watch the children grow and learn."

The middle school band has concerts, but it does not march or play at football games, so the time demands are less.

Denton has put his "stamp of excellence" on the band program at Northside, said Stephen King, supervisor of music and art for county schools.

"He has built the program - from the sixth to the 12th grade. It has been his work," King said. "He has done an outstanding job."

Northside High School has been a consistent winner in regional and state band competitions. It has been a Virginia High School Senior Honors band four of the past five years, the highest award in band competition.

Denton received the 1991 Stanbury Award for Outstanding Virginia Band Director, high school level, from the American School Band Directors Association.

The Northside High band is smaller than some bands in the region, but you would never know it from the sound and volume of the music, Murdock said.

"We have 62 members, but it sounds like 150," she said. "It's amazing what he can get out of them."

Band boosters said Denton has been a positive influence on the students.

And the students like Denton's style.

"Mr. Denton is wonderful, kind and funny," said a student who nominated him for the Teacher of the Week Award in the Roanoke Times & World-News in 1993.

"Sometimes, when we can't get something right, he tells us a story about his life. Then, we play the music perfect - well, almost perfect."

James Pagans, a band booster, said he hates to see the high school lose both Denton and William Svec in the same year. Svec, a former band director at Cave Spring High School, has taught at Northside for several years and helped Denton. He is retiring this year.

"They have elevated the band program and the accomplishments of the students," Pagans said.

King said he hopes a new director can be named by the end of the school year. "We have completed the preliminary screening," he said.

The parents are sympathetic to Denton's desire to spend more time with his family, Pagans said, but he still will be missed. The enthusiasm for the band has been high in recent years, he said.

Pagans is happy that Denton will remain at the middle school, because he said that will be good for the high school band. To build a high school band, he said, you have to start at the middle school. And Denton will be there to do that.