She started playing the piano by ear at age 4, studied at the prestigious MacPhail School of Music in Mineapolis, and performed her first concert in Northrup Auditorium at age 12. She?Äôs taught piano 50 years.
Arlene Sands started teaching music at Kimball Schools in 1984. Her husband got a job as the band director in Annandale three years earlier and that?Äôs how they landed in this area. Before coming to Kimball, she taught at St. Peter?Äôs in Delano for three years, as well as two years (at the same time) at St. Anthony School in Watkins. She?Äôs originally from North Minneapolis.
She loves to see the light in her students?Äô eyes, watching as music ?Äúgets to them.?Äù One particular student, Mellissa Hoffman, was not expected to survive long after she was born, and to never walk or talk, much less sing. But Mellissa liked to sing, and she sang solos in choir, eventually taking a State Superior for her lovely voice. That?Äôs the kind of thing that has kept Sands going all these years, choir after choir, student after student.
?ÄúI love my Senior Choir,?Äù she says, ?Äúand I will miss it a lot.?Äù
In 1998 Sands took her KES Choir to perform for her mother in the nursing home in Cambridge. Her mother died during their concert and was wheeled out of the room, right after they sang ?ÄúAmazing Grace,?Äù her favorite song of all time. Her brother, sister, and father all happened to be there at the time, and Sands and the choir continued the concert.
?ÄúI?Äôve enjoyed my 33 years [here] so much,?Äù she said.
?ÄúTeaching is a great thing,?Äù she added. ?ÄúThe money?Äôs not great, but seeing their eyes light up [is priceless].?Äù
Sands will not be heading off to the Old Musicians?Äô Home. She has plans to get back to writing songs, and maybe recording more. She plans to spend more time with her husband Chuck, too. They have three very musical children as well, and seven grandchildren.
Sands began her Kimball career along with a few others, all of whom have since retired: Keith Haake, Mike Linn, Paulette (Lahde) Hauge.
Her replacement has already been hired, and will begin in the fall. She?Äôll have some big shoes to fill, but she?Äôll love it.
Mrs. Arlene Sands has taught music at Kimball for 33 years. In May, she presented her final high school concert (above) and elementary concert in her teaching career. Her retirement open house is Sunday afternoon. Staff photo by Marguerite Laabs.