Boardman band performs for Austintown preschoolers


Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Members of the Boardman High School band lined up before the start of their concert at the Austintown Community Church Preschool.

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.After the Boardman High School band's performance, preschool students at the Austintown Community Church Preschool grabbed their instruments and put on a concert of their own.

By TIM CLEVELAND

tcleveland@vindy.com

On Aug. 15, 14 members of the Boardman High School band got a chance to show its stuff by performing a concert at Austintown Community Church Preschool for the students and teachers.

“During the week of Aug. 11, the whole preschool/child care center was learning about music,” lead teacher Amy Teeters said of how the idea of the performance came about. “I was talking to my students, who are between the ages of 4- and 5-years-old, about the different music families (i.e., percussion, woodwind, string and brass), when one of my students, Owen, stated, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we could have a band play?’”

Teeters said she thought it was a great idea, and got in contact with her nephew, Ryan Woolweaver, a trombone player in the band. The concert was then set up.

The performance was a hit with the approximately 40 people who attended. The band was scheduled to play four or five songs in a 15- to 30-minute performance, but the students and teachers were so pleased the band ended up doing a one-hour show with nine or 10 songs.

After the performance, the students invited the band members to join them in their dance party. There, the children performed their own songs and dances for the band members.

“The performance was amazing.” Teeters said. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude that these young teenagers took time out of their busy lives and schedules to voluntarily perform for young children. The performance was such a huge hit with all of the children no matter if they were 3-years-old or 10-years-old. Each and every one of them had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed it. They loved it so much, that when they went back to their classrooms it was all they could talk about.”

Teeters said the performance was also well received the children who witnessed it.

“The performance by the Boardman Band members will benefit the preschoolers and the school age children in a couple different ways,” she said. “This may be the first time that preschoolers ever saw or heard a live band. This may also be the first time that they have been able to see and touch real instruments. Young children, especially those in preschool, learn best through hands-on experiences. We can talk to them about music and musical instruments but, in order for them to actually understand and comprehend the concept of music, they need to see it, hear it and touch it.

“On this day, they were all able to do so. The school age children in Austintown, who are entering the fifth grade, are provided the opportunity to decide if they would like to join the band. This performance provided the children with a chance to see and hear the instruments that are available to them at this age. It also possibly could encourage them to take up a musical instrument and unleash a talent they might not know they have.”

By using this site, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

» Accept
» Learn More