Like a stirring ballad or jazz set, Allen Slater’s life has followed an unpredictable and exciting progression.
As a boy growing up in the rural setting of Miles City, he followed the exciting elements of the local marching band. Of all things, one particular bright, unique fixture captured his attention — the tuba — and the young boy began playing regularly, discovering a new world of notes and tunes.
By high school, his love of music continued to blossom despite the fact that band classes only counted for half a credit and didn’t benefit students’ GPAs, which deterred some from enrolling.
His life reached a tumultuous crescendo during his senior year. The Vietnam War was in full swing and Slater’s age group was next in line for the draft. But as fate would have it, the U.S. government suspended the draft months before Slater graduated from high school in 1974.
“My life would’ve been radically different if that had happened, but it didn’t so I went to college. I didn’t even know until May that I wanted to go to college,” he said.
Slater enrolled at the University of Montana and again followed his love of music, which introduced him to a wide array of classes and influences. It also led him to sign up for the university’s band, which is where he met a particularly talented musician in the nearby flute section. Her name was Becky.
Within a few years, Slater and Becky were married and he had graduated from UM with a music degree. As an enthusiastic band director starting in Shelby, he began teaching students how to follow the tune wherever it took them, just as he had, which is how he eventually arrived at Flathead High School and built one of the best high school music programs in the West.
Now, 37 years later, including the last 28 at Flathead, Slater’s career as band director is reaching its final notes. Slater is retiring this spring and will conduct his final performance during the school’s June 3 graduation.
As director of bands, Slater has guided generations of students through the varied elements of music, from classic orchestras to rock n’ roll, jazz and everything in between. For nearly 30 years he has orchestrated upwards of 70 performances annually while also shaping several classes and programs at Flathead. He has taken bands across North America to perform, regularly drawing high praise as an elite program. He also helped shape the entire school district’s music programs, from the elementary schools up to both Flathead and upstart Glacier.
As a result of his tutelage, many students have gone on to build music careers or at the very least tap into something memorable, whether it’s a tune or a favorite instrument. Former students, reflecting their appreciation for their longtime mentor, also created a scholarship in his name this year.
“He’s been my example of how to do the job,” said David Barr, the band director at Glacier High School.
“He is able to connect with the students and he’s very organized. He started a lot of traditions at Flathead. I think his legacy is just all the different kids that have come through that band program that still think that was one of their best experiences.”
As Slater says, he has worked to build a program “based around the kids” with the same compassion and support structure as a family. After all, a good, unified band is greater than the sum of its parts, according to Slater.
“I love music and what it does. It’s so malleable for what you’re doing. But it’s the people that are a part of it that make it special,” he said.
When he arrived in 1988, Flathead had gone through seven directors in six years. He began building consistency and trust among the students and also set a high standard for everyone, himself included.
“We wanted to have a program that was known, not only in our state but in our entire region. And that happened,” he said.
Flathead’s band program grew from 80 students in 1988 to today’s regular size of 120. The orchestra grew from 16 students to two full ensembles. He added new programs and classes to meet the various interests of all students. A few years ago, Flathead received a blue ribbon from the National Band Masters Association, recognizing the multi-year excellence of the school’s program. Slater himself has won several top awards, including the outstanding music educator award from the national federation of high schools, the top honor for a band director in this region.
As Slater approaches retirement, he plans to keep following the music, just in a smaller role. He will keep leading the valley’s community band. He will also enjoy spending his free time traveling to concerts with Becky.
Through joys and sadness, struggles and successes, music has taken Slater along an unforgettable adventure.
His goal all along was to help others experience a similar gift.
“Oftentimes as we go through the year, I’ll say, ‘Turn around and look at where we’ve come. What a journey we’ve been on,’” he said. “That journey fits not just within their musical abilities but everything that has to do with their lives.”