3rd ID band performs at community school

By Story by Pvt. Zoe GarbarinoMay 23, 2017

3rd ID band performs at community school
Soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division band perform for students at Snelson-Golden Middle School May 10, 2017 in Hinesville, Ga. The band's focus is to raise student's awareness of music's importance in the Army. (U.S. Army photo by Pvt. Zoe Garbari... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT STEWART, Ga. -- The 3rd Infantry Division (3rd ID) Band performed at Snelson-Golden Middle School in Hinesville, Ga., May 10, 2017.

The band's focus was to perform at community schools to make students aware of music's importance in the Army and to get them interested in playing instruments.

"It's great that our commander had the intent to reach out to the community, especially because we are a deployable band and we don't often get the chance to reach out to the community the way non-deployable bands do," said Staff Sgt. George Bryan, the control non-commissioned officer for the band. "Even though we're busy getting ready to deploy, we're still putting the kids first. That is important to us as musicians and to the Army in the long run."

When the band performs at different schools, they tailor their performances for different age groups.

In an elementary school setting, they perform and demonstrate each instrument so the students have an idea of what they want to play when they go into middle school.

In a middle school setting, the band performs for the students.

In a high school setting, the band instructs and performs with the high school band to show them how to enhance their sound.

"The fact that the musicians are in the military makes it helpful because it gives more variety as to who can play these instruments," said Jessica Bland, a band instructor at Snelson-Golden Middle School in Hinesville. "That authority and that presence is really good for the students to see."

After each performance at different schools, the band goes home with job satisfaction, according to Bryan.

"I like performing at school events because the kids are full of excitement and anticipation," said Spc. Paige Arthur, a musician from the band. "It sends a good message that if they want to serve their country and still play an instrument, this is a good option."

The band has performed at several local schools throughout the community and will continue to perform until they deploy.

"When we do a job for kids and they get excited to go home to tell their parents how great we did, said Bryan. "That's what makes us really happy."