Jackson senior helps visually impaired band mate navigate the field

Cheyenne Vaughn and Brandon Hahs are like a well-oiled machine.

Vaughn, the clarinet section leader for the Jackson High School Marching Band, helps Hahs, a fellow clarinet player who is visually impaired, follow other band members when they do formations at football games and in competitions.

Vaughn volunteered for the task -- which she doesn't view as anything extra -- after lead marching band director Chris Crawford asked her and two other section leaders if they would mind helping Hahs.

"I had known him before because my brother and him were in Boy Scouts" five or six years ago, and Vaughn's brother also knows Hahs' sister.

"I don't mind it at all," Vaughn said. "I enjoy it. He's pretty awesome. …"

"Thanks," Hahs put in.

"We have some really funny conversations," Vaughn said.

Diagnosed with hydrocephalus -- a medical condition often referred to as water on the brain -- at 9 months of age, Hahs was sighted until he was 5 when his shunt failed, damaging his optic nerve. Now he can see bright colors such as yellow, orange and red and he can see people, but they have to be nearby. And if he has a big TV, he can play video games -- "Call of Duty" is one of his favorites.

He's memorized all his music and can read Braille music. But sometimes the Braille tunes get "ghosted," meaning the upraised Braille letters become worn down, or punched in so the bumps can't be felt. In case of this, printed titles are written above the Braille songs, so a sighted person can tell Hahs what's being played.

Another challenge for Hahs is he can't tell if his bandmates are moving their left or right feet when they're marching. "So it's a little difficult to stay in step," Hahs said.

That's where Vaughn comes in.

"She'll also help me onto the field," Hahs said.

Vaughn added she always makes sure Hahs is in step and knows when to turn.

"Our second song we play for pregame, we make a lot of sharp turns," Vaughn said.

"And we backward march," Hahs said.

When the 157-member band marches without music, Vaughn said they'll use the snare drum to help them figure out when to put their left foot down.

"I think other than that …," Vaughn said.

"It's easy," Hahs finished.

The only time Hahs isn't marching is during halftime, when he plays from the pit.

"We do a lot more complicated moves. I think you could probably do it," Vaughn said to Hahs, "but at the end [of halftime] we do 'Dream On' [a 1973 ballad by Aerosmith and written by its lead singer Steven Tyler] and march double time. That's even hard for me."

Among Hahs' influences for playing music are his sister, 14-year-old Courtney, who plays the flute. But it was the cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants who inspired him to choose the clarinet.

"I loved SpongeBob. When I was younger, I thought I could play better than him. I also liked it, too," Hahs said. He added he didn't want to play percussion and liked using his fingers to create sound.

"I like playing the music. I enjoy getting into it," Hahs said. "Like 'Dude (Looks Like a Lady)' is my favorite and 'Dream On.'"

Thomas Broussard, director of bands for the Jackson School District, said the No. 1 thing the band program asks of students is that they show up, work hard and do their best. He said Vaughn and Hahs are "wonderful" students, each with a super work ethic and a great family.

"Both children have such positive attitudes. It's no wonder Cheyenne is the type of child she is. Seniors [like her] really take on the mantle of leadership. They take responsibility for our excellence and our success," Broussard said.

He added children are told every person in band matters.

"The thing is, if the children will show up and work hard, everything will take care of itself. We don't cut," Broussard said.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address: 315 S. Missouri, Jackson