Elementary students gain music education through after school program

Many 5th and 6th graders in Idaho Falls are getting their hands on band and orchestra instruments through an after school music program.

The program allows students to go to Taylor View or Eagle Rock Middle Schools and get band or orchestra training.

Hundreds of students are participating in the program to give them an opportunity to learn an instrument before going to middle school.

“It is proven that students that do take music do better academically it’s great for their self esteem they learn to work in a group, they take a lot of pride in the instruments, learning how to play them, becoming better, mastering the music, it helps them with memory- there’s just numerous things that happen when a child takes a music program,” said Sharon McGuire, Music Department Manager of Idaho Falls District 91.