Music in Our Schools

Amaris Franklin radiated with excitement as she shared the tireless work and dedication she and her students have been putting in at John Rolfe Middle School.

As the middle school band director, Franklin, who has always been passionate about the transformative power of music, has worked tirelessly to inspire and uplift her students. 

March marked the beginning of music appreciation month with the theme, “United through Music.” Franklin spoke about the community that music provides for not only herself, but her students and their families. 

“[Music] is everything I am and everything I do,” Franklin said. “I think in the band room, it’s a place where everybody is seen, everybody is heard, everybody has a voice and everybody can leave feeling like they are fulfilled.” 

The John Rolfe Middle School Band Program alongside Franklin are Start 1 Spark’s first partnership with a local middle school to provide extracurricular supplies. 

Since 2021, Start 1 Spark has funded over 100 instruments, replaced older instruments and purchased new materials for the John Rolfe band program, according to Start 1 Spark. 

The band program has grown significantly during Franklin’s time at John Rolfe. There are about 70 to 80 students that perform regularly in the beginning through advanced bands. 

“I may have had 20 to 30 kids in the music program total when I started in 2019,” Franklin said. “Now in the band, we have at least 100 kids enrolled.”

Jacob Lugo, a seventh-grade student at John Rolfe, has played in the band for a few years, playing percussion instruments, but mainly timpani drums. 

“It’s fun, it gets real,” Lugo revealed about being a part of the band. “Don’t think you can get off easy, it’s discipline and hard work.”

Haven Lambert, another seventh grade student at John Rolfe, got his start in the band with the trumpet, but has graduated to the baritone. 

“Getting up there and playing in front of the crowd,” is Lambert’s favorite part of being in the band. He shared that he is looking forward to the Districts Assessment Showcase that is steadily approaching. 

Franklin discussed the importance of boosting student’s confidence with playing instruments. 

“I’m here to teach you,” Franklin said. “Once they pass a certain level of confidence, then they are able to join one of my top groups who gets to go out into the community and do different events.” 

Chuvello Holly, a baritone player for the band, has been playing the instrument for all his middle school years. 

“It’s kind of hard to play an instrument for the first time,” Holly said, recounting his first time playing in the band. “She [Franklin] actually liked it and…I went to the All-County Band and the Assessments.”  

Franklin credits Start 1 Spark with providing necessary items for students to allow her to grow the band. 

“Using her [Start 1 Spark] as a resource has helped me to help these kids believe in themselves and to help people have that can do spirit as well,” Franklin said. 

Start 1 Spark has been an integral piece for inspiring the students at John Rolfe band program, Franklin said. 

As the year comes to a close, Franklin hopes to reinforce the idea of music and connection in a community. 

“My dad used to tell me that when you are leading a program or being a teacher, you should leave it better than the way you found it,” Franklin said. “My goal is to make sure…everybody can take a little bit of it with them, whether I’m with them or not, and carry it on throughout life.”