Music at Evergreen Schools provides for powerful opportunities

Never has it been more important for students to be engaged in something they find meaningful, worthy of their time, and personally fulfilling. Music education in our schools offers all of this and more. At a time when screens and social media often dominate students’ attention, music provides a powerful opportunity to focus, create, and connect in ways that are deeply human and lasting.

Across Evergreen Schools, we are proud to offer a wide range of music opportunities for students of all ages and interests. 

At East Evergreen Elementary School, all students, from our youngest learners through 4th graders, participate in general music. We focus on building a love of music through singing, movement, listening, and playing instruments. Our goal is simple: if students sing, play, listen, and move, then we are creating meaningful musical experiences. Principal Henry Mack reminds us that “music isn’t just an enrichment class; it’s an essential part of helping every child find his or her voice and place in our school community.”   

It is amazing what students can accomplish when they love what they are learning. Students engage daily with instruments such as drums, xylophones, shakers, and rhythm sticks. Older students learn ukulele and recorder, with 4th graders participating in the Recorder Karate program, where they earn belts as they master new songs. These opportunities engage students in actively experiencing music, as 4th grader Parker Kenneth shares, “I loved learning the recorder. Earning belts makes me feel like I can do anything!” 

Parent Lynsi DeWaard says the recorder challenge for her daughter to earn her "black belt" was very impactful” “Everyone loves a little competition and reward, and it helped my daughter to manage her time outside of school as she would practice each night making it a priority among her other interests.”

Performance is also a vital part of music education. Each grade level participates in concerts throughout the year, ranging from musicals to ensemble performances where all students, regardless of ability, participate. These experiences foster creativity, teamwork, and confidence. As 3rd grader Aria Knowles puts it, “performing helps me overcome my fears.” 

It’s especially exciting to hear students express the joy and meaning they find in music. Third grader Harry Owczarek shares, “I like music class because it feels good to have fun,” while 4th grader Granger Steccone adds, “Music helps me express how I feel.” 

At Evergreen Junior High School, students can participate in beginning band, concert band, choir, general music, guitar, and modern music production, all of which are hands-on classes where, as seventh grader Leo Bennett explains, “Music allows us to express ourselves” while building confidence, discipline, and collaboration skills. 

We are fortunate to provide students with access to guitars, keyboards, percussion instruments, and band equipment, along with opportunities to explore musical theater, digital composition, and performance. Even our fifth- and sixth-grade students experience a rich variety of musical learning, from global music studies to hands-on instrument exploration. These are opportunities that matter, as 7th grader Aarion Chesley shares: “It takes courage and time to play music.” 

We’ve worked hard to expand opportunities for students by securing grants for instruments and building a fully equipped computer music lab. Events like band concerts, music performances, and our annual silent auction featuring donated desserts bring people together and highlight just how much music matters here.

At Evergreen Crossroads music can be especially impactful. For students who may struggle in traditional settings, music often becomes a place of success, connection, and confidence. As seventh-grader Sage Lundberg shares, “Music class helps me with my confidence. It helps my mood and emotions and starts my day off right.”

Our Evergreen Crossroads music program includes guitar classes, general music, and schoolwide concerts that showcase student growth and creativity. Students also explore non-traditional music-making with buckets, body percussion, and student-selected instruments, giving them voice and ownership in their learning.

Evergreen Crossroads principal Sherry Odegard shares that “Music has a unique way of reaching students who may struggle in traditional classrooms. For those facing academic, behavioral, or self-confidence challenges, the music room can become a place of possibility, a place where they can experience success and discover new talents. It’s often in these moments that students begin to see themselves not by their struggles but by their potential.”

Parent Lane Smith recently reflected on the lasting impact of our program: “To understand the legacy of the music program at Evergreen, I think back to scraping together $300 for a well-used Yamaha saxophone. I never imagined that, 20 years later, my granddaughter would be playing that same instrument her father once played, in the same school. It wasn’t just the instrument that kept music alive in our family; it was the commitment, joy, and passion of the music program. Without that, the saxophone might have ended up forgotten in a closet. Instead, music became part of our family’s story.”

Moments like these remind us why music education matters. When students master a scale, perform a solo, or take the stage for the first time, they experience a sense of pride that stays with them. In a world filled with devices, music offers something different: a chance to develop expression, discipline, collaboration, and joy—skills that last a lifetime.

As teachers, we know that the impact of music education goes far beyond the classroom. Some students come to school specifically for music, for the sense of belonging, the creative outlet, or the chance to be part of something meaningful. Without a tablet, laptop, or device, students learn language, rhythm, expression, teamwork, collaboration, self-assessment, self-confidence, perseverance, history, and culture. And they can take all of their positive musical experiences with them for the remainder of their lives.

We feel incredibly fortunate to teach in schools where music and the arts are valued and supported. 

Our programs are strengthened by incredible support from our Evergreen community, families, board of trustees, and staff. Superintendent Laurie Barron emphasizes the importance of ensuring “students are exposed to music in school, as it supports the whole child, promoting academic growth, creativity, emotional well-being, and a sense of belonging that carries far beyond the classroom.” 

Every day, we see firsthand how music transforms students’ experiences, helping them find their voice, their confidence, and their place in a community, and it is a privilege to do this work. As we often say, some people have to do their job, but we get to teach music to young people. That joy is shared by our students, families, and community.

Most importantly, music gives students something they can carry with them for the remainder of their lives. Perhaps seventh-grade student Kutona Peterson says it best: “Music is my safe place.”

Rachel Bendon, East Evergreen Elementary School and Evergreen Crossroads Music Teacher, and Kurt Weber, Evergreen Junior High School Music Teacher

    Students in a music class at East Evergreen Elementary School. (Courtesy photo)