Instrumental Music
Prestonwood Christian Academy’s instrumental music program continues to grow each year. With a beginning band class of around 60 students each year feeding into the upper levels, there is great excitement about what the future holds. The PCA band has a strong presence in the Prestonwood community, playing at many events both on and off campus, and leading the charge at many of our athletic events. PCA band alumni routinely continue their studies on marching scholarships at colleges throughout the nation.
PCA’s instrumental music program begins in Sixth Grade, as students are given their first opportunity to pick up an instrument and be a part of Beginning Band. Students learn the basics of instrumental technique, learning how to assemble their instrument, posture, embouchure, etc.Beginning band performs in two concerts throughout the year.
Moving into Seventh and Eighth Grade, students continue their study as repertoire increases in difficulty, with major emphasis on musicianship. The Middle School band performs in at least two concerts throughout the year, as well as being invited to play at selected football games and traveling to a music festival for competition.
As students transition to Upper School band, musicianship becomes the primary focus as repertoire continues to increase in difficulty. Marching is introduced as a part of the curriculum, as well as participation in Friday night football games. There are numerous performance opportunities throughout the year in concert and festival settings, as well as field trips, pep rallies, and games. Upper level students are encouraged each year to audition for All-State band. Recent years have seen great success at All-State with students achieving first and second chair placements.
PCA Instrumental Music Faculty
Larry Reynolds
Sixth-Twelfth Grade
In his eighteenth year as a music educator, Larry Reynolds is the Director of Bands at Prestonwood Christian Academy. He is originally from Hot Springs, AR and has a Bachelors Degree in Music Education form Henderson State University. Larry has lived in the North Dallas area since 1991 and he and his family attend Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church in Allen, where he is the director of the worship orchestra. Larry taught in the Lewisville Independent School District where he was the Associate Director of Instrumental Music Studies at Griffin Middle School. In addition, Mr. Reynolds taught at Staley Middle School in Frisco, Kaufman High School, Lone Oak High School, Little Elm High School and Bishop Lynch High School, where his bands took top honors in numerous contests and festivals at the local, state, and national level, including the 2005 Texas Private School Music Educators Association Division 1 State Marching Band Championship. Mr. Reynolds has been married to his wife Robbie for twenty years and they have two children who attend PCA, Luke who is twelve and Lydia who is ten years old.
Lauren Leineger
Ninth -Twelfth Grade, Strings
Lauren Leininger is a 2008 graduate of Cedarville University, a top ranked Baptist liberal arts university, in Dayton, Ohio. She graduated with high honors with a degree in secondary mathematic education and a double minor in Bible and viola performance. Although she studied piano and harp as well, Lauren concentrated mainly on studying viola through private lessons from several different teachers before studying under Sherridan Currie of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra while at Cedarville. Lauren is currently continuing her education at Texas Women's University, focusing on mathematics education for her Master's of Science degree. She joined the PCA Faculty in 2012, having taught three years previously at The Colony High School and one year in Sidney, Ohio. Lauren is married to husband, Eric, also a teacher at PCA.
