A Closer Look: Why Elementary School Band Matters

Pleasanton Unified School District elementary band teacher, Jason Borris, holds a well-rounded opinion of the many benefits of early musical education.

"Learning to play an instrument and make music is the greatest benefit of band and strings in elementary school, and students learn to express themselves in a new way," said Borris, who took up the trombone as a student at Valley View during the first year elementary band was restarted for students in Pleasanton.

For him, elementary band provided an opportunity to discover his love of music, which eventually defined his profession.

"Fourth or fifth grade seems to be about the right time for band instruction," he added. "And string instruments are made to be played by 3 and 4 year old children."

Without denying the fact that musical education bolsters math and language skills, Borris – who is known as a bit of a jokester among the fifth graders he teaches – values various benefits of elementary band that extend far past learning to read music or memorize scales.

Some of the greatest achievements Borris has witnessed in his ten years teaching Pleasanton's elementary bands can best be described in terms of students' personal expression, social development and self-confidence.

"Besides the intrinsic value of making music, I would say that band gave me a place to fit in, in high school," he said. "When I ate lunch in the band room, I felt like I was at home. In addition to my job teaching music, band in Pleasanton was the beginning of my training as a professional musician.  I have been able to perform with many great orchestras throughout Northern California."

Developing an elementary-level foundation of working with a band, in concert with other budding musicians, teaches not only musical technique but team building and cooperation skills, he believes.

In addition, the benefits of the elementary band program extend far beyond early musical education, said Borris. Students are much more likely to venture into a new activity or hobbyin fifth grade than in sixth grade.

"Fifth graders are the top dogs at their school," he said. "Their position of security leads them to be more willing to try something new.  They have a pretty good idea of what to expect in their fifth grade year."

If band programs were not offered until middle school, he suggested, the element of the unknown may hinder students' willingness to try.

Year after year, Borris marvels at how his fifth grade band students grow, musically, in one year, especially considering they only have one band class a week. 

"Students are so enthusiastic that they can be heard practicing during their recesses," said Borris.

Besides creating lifelong relationships with music, some musicians create lifelong relationships through music. Borris and his wife, Sharolyn Borris, are homegrown Pleasanton examples.

"We were in the same third and fifth grade classes at Walnut Grove," said Borris. "Then we were at Harvest Park and Amador together in band," where they both graduated in 1993.

In addition to working as the music teacher at Walnut Grove, Sharolyn continues the family's musical tradition by playing clarinet, percussion and piano.