Mulberry 5th grade band heads to state for 2nd year

Why wait on a third charm when the second one does the trick?

“This is the second time the school is sending a fifth-grade band to state,” said Mulberry Elementary principal Mary Aucoin. “Our sixth-grade bands have been to state several times.”

Both of the school’s bands earned superior marks and sweepstakes awards at the District 7 Large Ensemble Festival at Central Lafourche High School, and the sixth grade band is the first from the school to make straight 1s and As – the highest marks possible – at district. Both bands will next play at the Louisiana Music Educators Association State Choral Large Ensemble Festival April 30- May 2 in Lake Charles.

“I am so excited, and I expected both bands to do well at district,” Aucoin said. “I heard them at the Christmas concert, and I knew they were on their way. I think we will continue to send bands to the competitions every year. We introduce the kids to music in kindergarten, and, by the third grade, they are using recorders. When they reach the sixth grade, they are prepared to use real instruments.”

Not only has the school’s music program earned both bands a berth at state, but both bands will also be featured on NBC News’ Education Nation, a segment that highlight’s the state of education across the country.

“WDSU in New Orleans called Philip Martin at the Terrebonne Parish school district, and they asked if there was a school he would like to feature on the show,” Aucoin said. “Philip knows the bands have been doing well, and I agreed to let them feature the bands on the show.”

From 5-7 a.m. April 18, viewers will be able to tune in to WDSU or visit www.nbc.com to see live streaming video of the bands performing at the school.

Aucoin credits the students as well as their music instructor for the success of the school’s music program.

“The students are so excited about going to the music festival,” she said. “Fifth grade feels as though they also earned their way even though they already knew they were going. They made all ones at district this year.”

“Eric (Zelasko) is a fabulous director,” Aucoin continued. “He is great. He truly understands what it is to teach music, and he has the ability to make students succeed.”

Zelasko, who has been teaching music for nine years, said that cooperation from his boss as well as the rest of the school’s administration makes his job teaching the students that much easier.

“The key to a great music program is having the backing of the school’s administration,” Zelasko said. “We teach across the curriculum. Music helps students with math, science and history, and music is very important to students. We are helping the kids to be successful in every endeavor, and they also have good parent support at home.”

“As a music educator, if I have done my job, they will do the best they can,” he added. “It still hasn’t sunk in yet that we are going to state. It’s hard to explain, but it’s a really good feeling. Looking at scores, all the hard work is paying off, and the kids work hard.”

Each week, the students are required to do six hours of practice – four at school and two at home – and the hard work showed when the bands preformed pieces like “Battle Creek March,” “Armada,” “Union March” and “Bunker Hill Overture” against 20 other schools at the district competition.

“Our fifth-grade band was the only all fifth-grade group to go to district out of the 60 schools that were invited,” Zelasko said.

While the students prepare for the big event in Lake Charles, a little rivalry is keeping both sets of students on their toes.

“The fifth graders are doing well, but you can’t be too proud,” Zelasko said. “They played well, practiced hard and were really into it. They are engaged in the study and know the standard. The level of the bar has gotten a little higher on the program, and both grades want to outdo each other and do the best. It’s a friendly little competition, but, really, they are just competing against the program.”

“The fifth graders already knew they were going to state because the fifth-grade band won first at state last year, but I told them I didn’t want them riding their coattails,” he continued. “It’s not easy for a fifth-grade band to make it to state, and they both did an outstanding job.”

Mr. Z, as his students call him, is confident that his pupils are more than ready to take the stage on April 29.

“This is a real stage, not a cafeteria with parents,” he said. “They did good up on stage at district. Music is performance based, and some junior-high and high-school band members still have problems with being on stage.”

Until then, Zelasko will stand at the front of his classroom, fine tuning the sounds of both bands.

“It’s not all about trophies and making 1s,” he said. “It’s about making music and doing what you love.”

For two of Zelasko’s fifth-grade students, being in the school’s band is also about balancing their other studies with the soothing sounds of music.

“I like band because it’s fun,” said Landon White. “I just like music. It relaxes me.”

White, 10, plays percussion in the band, and two of his older siblings, as well as his father are both musically inclined.

“My brother and sister also played in band when they went to school here at Mulberry, and my dad laughs at me when I practice at home because he used to play percussion, too,” White said. “I’m excited about winning at district, and I hope we make all ones at state.”

Fellow band member Karlece Utley, 11, also finds playing her flute a great way to de-stress, and the young lady has followed in the musical steps of her mother, a former clarinet player.

“I like playing music, and it’s relaxing,” Utley said. “I was excited to finally be in band, and I’m excited and nervous about state. We played really well at district, and I’m looking forward to getting more trophies for the school at state.”