SHARON —



The elementary band is “exploding” with interested kids and Sharon teachers are hunting for instruments to make sure every student who wants to play has access to one.

The “Loud and Proud Project” seeks donations of instruments or money to buy them as the  number of fifth- and sixth-graders who’ve taken up an instrument through the school’s band program has more than tripled.

Last year, there were 49 kids in elementary band in all three schools. This year they have 165 young musicians.

As kids packed up their saxophones after their final lesson before Thanksgiving break, Sharon music teacher Courtney Jones suggested the days off school would be perfect practice time.

Case Avenue Elementary student Jake Torr said his family was going out of town for the holiday.

“That’s the perfect time to show your saxophone to the world!” the second-year band director responded.

Jake’s one of the lucky few youngsters who has access to a horn outside school and Miss Jones said most of the students get theirs via the district’s collection.

Miss Jones said they need more than 80 flutes, clarinets, saxophones and trumpets to outfit each child with one. About 90 percent of the student population qualify for free lunches.

When she was hired, Miss Jones said district officials said a goal was to grow the band program.

“They didn’t give me a time frame, So I did it as soon as I could,” Miss Jones said with a laugh.

“She’s done exactly that – to the tune where we need a considerable amount of instruments to get in these kids hands so we don’t lose the moment,” Superintendent John Sarandrea said.

Sarandrea said he supposes theirs is a good problem to have.

“This has been a tradition in Sharon that certainly precedes me,” Sarandrea said, noting that the district has been “very, very proud” of it’s music programs for a long time.

“It’s an important part of the culture,” he said, so much so that the school board worked to trim the 2011-2012 budget without affecting the arts.

Miss Jones, who student taught at Sharon City schools a couple years ago, is a Slippery Rock University graduate with a double major in music education and music therapy.

“I have seen what music can do,” Miss Jones said. “People who can’t tell you their name can sing all the words to ‘Amazing Grace.’ It’s incredible.”

Kids have proven to do better in class and on tests when they’re involved in music, especially when they play an instrument, Miss Jones said.

Sharon’s got an orchestra, marching, jazz and pep bands kids can play in. Elementary students have lessons once a week and full band once a week.

They’re learning a different language, motor skills and even the science and history of the subject.

“You want to read music kind of like a roadmap,” Miss Jones explained to her clarinet students at Case as they worked to learn a new note.

Miss Jones travels daily between the district’s four buildings, hauling everything from a euphonium to a bag of drumsticks in her Jeep. The children share instruments, which isn’t ideal.

For example, she has a lesson with 16 trumpet players but only three of them have their own.

Miss Jones said that by the time they each take a turn at two notes, she cleans the mouthpieces and they pass the horn on the group only gets through two notes per session.

 “They have been dealing with not having instruments” the last couple months, Miss Jones said. “They come every week prepared, on time. I feel bad for them because they want to play so bad.”

She noted that she’s been surprised to learn some of her students have been known to get in trouble in regular classes.

Miss Jones said district administration has been “so supportive and helpful” of the effort.

The public’s been great so far, too.

Sarandrea said they’ve gotten more than $10,000  through donations from several organizations and individuals.

Rev. Adam Trambley of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Sharon, recently presented the district with a $2,400 check from the church vestry to help buy instruments.

“It’s a really good investment,” Trambley said, explaining that the benefits will pay off in the future. “It’s giving kids the tools to not be in crisis tomorrow and the next day.”

Because the instruments have a multi-year lifespan, the gift will keep on giving.

Trambley’s own daughters, Lillian and Julia, are in the school band and the church works with many Sharon students through West Hill Ministries’ programs.

So they’ve seen the good music can do, he said.

Many Sharon graduates have gone on to success in music, including renowned drummer Bernie Dresel. Many, many more who were part of the band or choir have successful careers outside the music business but still find time to have fun with the foundation built as students.

John Evans graduated in 1979 and was a musician under long-time band director Fred Boles.

“He was an incredible guy and mentor,” Evans said of Boles, adding that he had such charisma that “band was the thing to do.”

Evans is involved in the local music scene, playing bass with North Side Jazz and other projects.

The First National Bank of Pennsylvania vice president of commercial lending played saxophone and bass clarinet in the SHS band.

He said music programs  build teamwork, self reliance and broaden relationships.

Sharon students are most in need of flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets and trombones. The district’s also accepting string instruments.

“We’ll take anything,” Miss Jones said.

People interested in donating instruments or money can call Miss Jones at 724-983-4047 or send an e-mail to courtney_jones@sharon.k12.pa.us.

Checks can be made payable to Sharon City School district and those and instruments can be dropped off at any Sharon school.