March is Music In Our Schools Month – a time to celebrate the important role quality music education plays in students’ lives.

This year, the annual celebration’s theme is ‘I see me in music education.’

In honor of Music In Our Schools Month, we asked students around Faribault County what they love about their music classes.

Here are their responses.

Oliver Bruegger

Oliver is a first grader at United South Central Elementary School.

He says he has had fun learning solfege – a practice where syllables are assigned to notes of the scale – with his music teacher, Sheila Rame.

He has also enjoyed learning dances like the YMCA and the Hokey Pokey in music class.

When he’s older, he aspires to learn an instrument, too.

“I’m going to play saxophone in band,” he says.

Ezra Edwards

Ezra is a sophomore at USC High School. He plays percussion in band, under the direction of Bjorn Hagen.

He says he likes watching – and hearing – the notes on the page in front of him transform into music.

“It’s really rewarding getting a piece and watching it come alive,” Ezra observes.

Sidney Eitzmann

Sidney, a ninth grader at BEA High School, plays percussion under the direction of Kelsey Zbaracki and cello under the direction of Peter Koenig. She also sings in choir under the direction of Paul Johnson.

“I like how (being in an ensemble) is a team thing, but every part matters,” she says.

According to Sidney, participation also pays off in lessons about hard work and teamwork.

“You have to learn hard work – you have challenging pieces that you won’t learn right away,” she explains. “It teaches teamwork when all of those parts come together.”

Emily He

Emily, a ninth grader, plays violin and viola in the BEA orchestra program, and she plays clarinet in band.

She says her favorite part about being in musical ensembles is getting to make music in a group. And, she observes that learning to play together can be a valuable life skill.

“Since you’re working with other people, you can’t go at your own pace,” she explains. “You have to go with the group.”

Emma Johnson

Emma, a junior at USC High School, has been singing in choir since Kindergarten.

“I like the opportunities I’ve gotten,” the soprano says, explaining that choir has allowed her to compete in contests and sing solos.

She has also attended the Dorian music festival held annually at Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa.

“Listening to others is really important in music,” she muses. “You need to adjust to others in your surroundings.”

Celia Lundquist

First grader Celia says her favorite thing about music class at BEA Elementary is learning to play new instruments.

She says so far, she has learned to play drums, boomwhackers, shakers and the cowbell under the guidance of K-5 music teacher Kristin Johnson.

MJ Meyer

MJ, a BEA seventh grader, is a member of the school’s choir and orchestra programs.

The singer and bass player says he enjoys mastering his part in both ensembles.

“We work on all of the notes, and then we can progress and become a successful choir, orchestra or band,” he explains.

He also says being in choir and orchestra has helped him improve his ability to listen and connect with others.

“We learn to listen to each other, and be social – we talk to other people about music,” MJ says.

Chase Oltman

Chase, a USC first grader, says his favorite part about music class this year has been doing the limbo.

He has also been studying some music at home, too.

“I play piano at home and guitar, and violin and saxophone,” he says.

He hopes to play the flute in band one day.

Sawyer Ripley

Like his classmate, Celia, Sawyer enjoys playing instruments like the drums, boomwhackers and cowbell in music class.

“I like learning to play music,” the BEA first grader says.

Liam Schrader

Liam, a junior, plays tenor, baritone and alto saxophone in the USC band program.

“It’s fun to play music with people you know, and sound fantastic and awesome,” he says.

Liam also praises music’s ability to connect anybody and everybody.

“Music is a universal language,” he observes.

Evelyn Vega

Evelyn, now in ninth grade, has played violin since she was a sixth grader.

She says she enjoys the kind of music she gets to play in orchestra at BEA High School.

“The songs are peaceful. They make you forget you’re stressed,” she observes.

Mercy Williams

Mercy, a seventh grader at BEA Middle School, has been singing in choir since second grade, and she started playing the tuba in band as a fifth grader.

She says she loves hearing how different voices and instruments harmonize in both ensembles.

“I like the different ranges,” she explains. “In band, you can hear all of the different instruments, and in choir you can hear all of the different parts. It’s like a puzzle – if everyone does their part correctly, the pieces come together.”

Khloe Zabel

Khloe, a BEA ninth grader, is a member of its orchestra and choir programs.

The violinist says she has learned that discipline is key through her participation in musical ensembles.

“When you’re learning something new, you won’t get it on the first try – you have to have the motivation to keep trying,” she says. “You have to practice.”

Community members can see the outcome of these students’ hard work by attending one of the many musical performances they participate in throughout the school year.

Both the BEA and USC School Districts have upcoming performances in March – just in time for Music In Our Schools month.

On Friday, March 8, the BEA 5-12 orchestras presented a String Fling Concert in the BEA High School Performing Arts Center (PAC) at 7 p.m.

The BEA High School bands will perform in the PAC on Monday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m., and the very next day, March 19, the same venue will host the BEA 6-12 choirs in a concert starting at 7:30 p.m.

United South Central’s 7-12 choirs will also host a performance in the USC auditorium on Thursday, March 21, at 7 p.m.