You tend to notice those moments when an announcement is made that can have a lasting impact on a community, especially if executed carefully over a period of time.

I heard one Thursday night at Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria when St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools Superintendent Kevin George announced every school in the district would have a band program and full line of instruments within two years.

The news was good a few years ago when VH1’s Save the Music Foundation provided funds to stock a music and band program at Emily C. Watkins Elementary.

The positive news continued this year as VH1 and Toyota teamed to fund a similar program at LaPlace Elementary School.

The two budding elementary efforts combine with existing programs at the public high schools to offer local students entry into a complete music educational experience, which could open their minds to different career choices or simply enrich their lives through a more complete learning experience.

Supporters of the arts have long pointed to research that has found learning music facilitates learning other subjects and enhances skills children inevitably use in other areas.

Students who learn music do better in school than those who don’t.

What about the students who don’t attend Emily C. Watkins or LaPlace Elementary?

George announced Thursday that VH1 Save The Music representative Chiho Feindler has committed next school year to award three more St. John schools $30,000, apiece, so they can purchase band instruments.

“Don’t stop there,” George said, building up some drama, “because then the year after that, the remaining schools in our system, the elementary schools, will receive $30,000 awards.

“(VH1 Save The Music has) committed for three (awards) for next year and three for the year after that, so every single one of our elementary schools will have band instruments and music programs. We’re very excited about that. We’re going to educate the entire child.”

Following the announcement and a deserved round of applause, School Board Member Albert Burl recognized his fellow Board member, Russ Wise, for making the initial contact with VH1 and facilitating the District’s partnership.

Wise took the time then to point out the role of the superintendent.

“Part of the deal was they would give us thousands of dollars worth of instruments if we hired certified music teachers, and our superintendent jumped right on that,” Wise said. “He didn’t just hire one, he hired three.

“Right now, these wonderful people are giving us this music. One of the reasons they decided to move so quickly on this was Ms. Chiho Feindler came back and visited Emily C. Watkins and saw the band in its rehearsal and then went to LaPlace Elementary School, where without instruments, this young man was teaching kids scales, tempo and all of the things that are associated with music. She was so impressed that she went on and made the arrangements with the superintendent.”

It’s something special to note in a school district that faces some of the challenges St. John faces, that we could go from zero elementary schools having music programs in 2013 to all having them by 2017.

Functioning music programs set the stage for our students to discover special talents under the guidance of trained professionals with proper equipment.

They also enhance a student’s chance to succeed in other core subjects.

Eventually, students who have learned and excelled in music from elementary through high school in St. John will move on to college with greater scholarship opportunities.

This week’s commitment to fund music programs in St. John was something special. If followed through properly, it will surely lead to music in our ears as students of today reap the benefits tomorrow of a more complete education.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.