Students, new teacher hit all the right notes
When the lone fourth grade trombone player stood up for a solo demonstration of his musical progress during the Boothbay Region Elementary School/Boothbay Region High School music department holiday concert, it was clear that conductor Sarah Foster’s passion for music education had made its way through to her students. The trombone player’s performance, along with every performance of the grades four through 12 musicians, exemplified a commitment to the learning process and the joy that comes with learning, and mastering, the universal language of music.
The concert was also a debut for Foster, 22, a first-year instrumental music educator. Foster graduated last May with a degree in music education from the University of New Hampshire and her position teaching grades four through 12 in the Boothbay Region schools is her first gig. “It’s a small program in a small school and we have a lot of challenges, but these kids are dedicated and passionate,” she said.
That dedication was apparent to the large group in attendance. Each holiday piece, from “Hot Cross Buns” performed by fourth graders to “Deck the Halls” featuring grades seven through 12, was deliberate, in unison, and was rewarded by an enthusiastic, heartfelt response from the audience. Between numbers, Foster was quick to take advantage of that appreciation by extending an appeal of support for the Boothbay Region Music Boosters.
“Our mission as teachers is to give students opportunities for success, and to allow them to find their niche and what they are passionate about. I want to make the music program here one of those opportunities. Due to scheduling challenges we are limited to the amount of time we can work together, but these young people have proven that they want to learn, that they enjoy music and working as a team. Let’s support them.”
The BRMB is still in the planning stages, but Foster encourages parents, teachers and community members interested in supporting music education in the Boothbay Region schools to email her at sfoster@csd3-bres.og.
And the band played on.
