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| 7/14/2005 | Email this article • Print this article |
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| Jordan Tille is shown making one of the wood castles he is selling to raise money to buy a new band instrument. |
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Jordan Tille raising money for band instrument
April Kelley
Changing schools from junior high to high school can be a challenge for any teen. New teachers, new schedules and changing friendships all can cause a certain amount of problems. Incoming freshman Jordan Tille faced an unusual problem, and came up with an equally unusual solution.
When Jordan entered junior high and chose to join band, there was no question what instrument he would play.
"Our oldest son, Derek (now 16), played clarinet when he first started band, and we were just silly enough to buy instead of renting the instrument. I was not buying another instrument until Jordan decided he wanted to stay in band," Susan Tille, Jordan's mother, said.
"It helped that that is the instrument my band teacher suggested, too," Jordan said.
Jordan proved to be quite good with the clarinet, as well as several other instruments.
"I play the clarinet, saxophone, bass drum in the marching band, and the guitar. When we went to the junior high, the band teacher offered guitar lessons so I took those. I can also plink on the piano a bit," Jordan said.
As Jordan mastered one instrument after another, Mr. Miller, Jordan's band teacher, suggested he try one more, the contra alto clarinet that resembles an oversized saxophone. Jordan enjoyed playing the instrument and has continued to do so, causing the problem he has now. Although Jordan is moving to the high school, the instrument he loves will not be following him.
"Not many people play the contra alto clarinet and it costs a lot, so I was using the junior high's. The high school has one, but someone else is using it. For a while, we thought maybe I could use the one I had been using at the junior high, when I went to the high school, but now someone in junior high wants to use it, so I can't," Jordan said.
A new contra alto clarinet costs about $2,200 and a used one costs about $700. Joel and Susan Tille, Jordan's parents, who both work for Dodgen Industries, explained to Jordan that they simply couldn't afford to buy him the instrument.
"When Jordan first wanted to play the saxophone we told him that we would buy him one when he entered high school, as long as he was in the first five chairs. He was, so we are keeping our end of that bargain. We can't afford another instrument," Susan said.
The solution to the problem came from Jordan's other hobby. One that he also uses his hands for and one that uses specialized instruments, woodworking.
"I had asked him to go to a seminar with me at the Woodsmith Store in Des Moines. The seminar was held to demonstrate different size bandsaws and explained the pros and cons of each. I originally went so I could make cabriole legs on furniture," Joel said.
"Doug Hicks showed me how to make the castles when he was demonstrating the bandsaws. I wanted to make them and I thought it would be a great way to make money for my clarinet," Jordan said.
The castles are cut out of a log that still has the bark. The log is quartered to give it two level sides and the front is contoured. Then Jordan's imagination takes over. Cuts are made in the wood, one inside the next. When finished, the pieces can be put back together like a puzzle. Pull the pieces up; starting with the inner pieces and a castle begins to form. Finishing touches are then added with a woodburning tool to simulate the windows in the castle walls.
When finished, the castles can be quite tall, up to about one and a half feet tall, with a base of nine inches by three inches or smaller. Jordan is hoping to be able to make larger castles later this fall when the family finishes building their woodshop and buys a larger bandsaw.
"We just don't have room in the garage right now for anything larger. We think the shop will be done by August," Joel said.
Each castle is very different, not only because of the cuts made, but because Jordan uses different woods, each with unique colors and textures.
"So far, we have used mulberry, elm and hackberry wood. Just logs I find laying around when I go places," Jordan said.
Jordan began selling the castles to friends and family, but has since branched out. He has now started to sell them on Saturday mornings at the Farmers Market in Humboldt.
"I had a lot of people come and look at them. I even had a lady from California look at them. She thought they were neat, but thought it would break during shipping. When I showed her how it collapses, she bought one right away. She was shipping it to her son in South Carolina," Jordan said
"They were so popular that we sold out of everything we had and took orders for more. Once people see them, they just love them," Susan said.
Jordan will be attending as many farmers markets as he can this summer with his castles, which cost between $5 and $10, depending on the size and number of cuts made. For those unable to attend a farmers market, Jordan would be glad to take orders over the phone at 332-9087.
"If I'm not home, just leave a message on our answering machine and I will be sure and get back to you," Jordan said.
"We are very proud of Jordan. We know we will probably have to kick in some of the money, but we are proud of him for coming up with his own solution and working toward this," Susan said.
Mr. Miller, Jordan's junior high band teacher, agrees. " I am amazed at this kid's initiative. I was worried that he would quit playing the contra alto clarinet. He is truly dedicated," Miller said.
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