Bill Buzza has taught music for 34 years, with 14 of those years at Edward Little High School in Auburn.

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In his entire time teaching, Buzza has never had as many students in his concert band class than he has now. The elective class has 54 students, which is up more than 20 students from last year.

Additionally, the Pep Band, which performs for high school football games and pep rallies, has around 24 students, nearly 10 more students than usual.

Buzza credits it to the Auburn School Department’s support for music education. 

“It’s been a big investment,” he said. “It shows the kids we value what they are doing and also, through the town supporting it with their tax dollars, it shows that it’s a priority,” he said. 

Edward Little High School has a strong foundation in music and performing arts, Buzza said. 

In 2024, the Donald M. Gay Performing Arts Center opened at Edward Little High School, and The National Association of Music Merchants has recognized The Auburn School Department as one of the best communities for music education over the last two years. It’s based on factors that include the department’s music budget, school facilities, and graduation requirements.

But before that, the program suffered around the time of the pandemic.

The department saw a drop off in students interested in band, likely because of the restraints in place, like having to wear a specific mask with a mouth hole to play wind instruments and having to teach, play and learn instruction over Zoom. The students lost interest, Buzza said. 

The school department’s music teachers were asked what they could do to bring the passion back to students. At the time, Buzza was one of two band teachers in the district, with the other an elementary and middle school teacher who bounced around between schools.

So in 2022, they added a position for an elementary-level band teacher.

“We believe in the value of music education and the importance of investing in a strong music program for our students,” Superintendent Sue Dorris said. “The strength of Auburn’s program comes from our dedicated educators, our talented students, and the support of our families and community.

“It’s exciting to see that the shared commitment reflected in the growing number of students choosing to participate.”

Hiring an additional teacher has allowed the school department to have a band teacher at each school level and gives the teachers the chance to spend more time with students.

“We started seeing growth immediately,” Buzza said. “Now we are seeing it trickle through the high school.”

All concert band students perform yearly for the elementary schools, and Buzza found that the performance usually sparks student interest in joining the concert band once they enter high school.

At Edward Little High School and the middle school, concert band is an elective that students opt into. In the earlier grades, all elementary students have music class, but they can choose to play an instrument through band if they want.

Pep Band is another option for students in concert band at Edward Little High School. 

Buzza is delighted to see the band’s growth. From a musical perspective, it sounds better.

He’s also happy to see students play instruments at a time where most are plugged into their phones. Playing an instrument connects students with their entire brain, he said, and helps them learn how to problem-solve and develop discipline through practice, and it gives them a sense of community.

“We are seeing enthusiasm in kids. Being unplugged is great,” Buzza said. “When we are plugged in, we are unplugged from other people. Now, we are seeing them interact and supporting each other and seeing them work on common goals.”