"I just love teaching students music and helping them grow." Tim Florjancic
“And a one and a two and a three and a four!”
The instruments start up. A flute. A trombone. A few oboes. A student hits the drums, sitting off to the side.
And the strains of “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” fill the small music room at Burton Elementary School, a grin spreading across of the face of music teacher Tim Florjancic.
The first-year teacher has every right to break into tune.
Since he arrived at the elementary school at the start of the 2013-2014 school year, the music program has swelled from 28 students in 2012-2013 to a staggering 74 students in 2013-2014.
“I just love teaching students music and helping them grow,” Florjancic said.
He graduated from Cuyahoga Heights and received a bachelor’s degree in music education from Hiram College. Last year, he worked in the music program at the high school before coming down to the elementary school this year.
“The students have responded well,” he said of their performance and enthusiasm.
Not all the students in a given grade will take band, but they will accommodate those that do to band class and often cheer them on and support them, he added.
“Every grade has three classes and a percentage of those take band because it’s an elective,” Florjancic said.
The band was scheduled to work on nine pieces for its upcoming spring concert featuring fourth- to sixth-graders, which will take place at 7 p.m. tonight in the large gymnasium.
One of the more unique pieces will be the Berkshire Schools fight song.
“We want the Berkshire community to show up and we love their support,” he added.
Events such as band concerts are vital to fostering community growth and school pride, Superintendent Doug DeLong said.
“It brings the community together in our school,” he added. “The parents, grandparents and relatives have the opportunity to see and hear what the kids are doing in the music program.”
Burton Elementary Principal Mandy Randles, a Berkshire graduate herself, said she was amazed at the growth of the band program.
“It’s great to see our students show their appreciation for music and bring that appreciation to everyone in the school and in the community,” Randles said.
DeLong said the district benefits from having a strong music program and from having Florjancic’s enthusiasm around students.
“Tim has done an outstanding job with the students in the music program at Burton Elementary,” he said. “The students have benefitted from his enthusiasm and love of music.”
