West Essex High School Students Sing the Praises of New Music Classrooms

West Essex High School students returned to class in September to beautiful new music classrooms. To accommodate the growing number of students in the band program, the West Essex Regional Board of Education approved the conversion of a maintenance garage into a new and larger band room.

The area includes space for offices, soundproof practice rooms and instrument storage space. The new room is also utilized for Advanced Placement Music Theory. The former choral room was converted into instrument storage space and is now the home of the choir and orchestra programs.

West Essex High School Band Director John Scozzaro said he is very pleased with the new band room. “In the old room, we were busting at the seams for space for students and equipment,” the band director stated. “With our new room, we have lots of room for everything. The new room is state of the art with four sound isolation practice rooms for students to practice alone or in small groups. Additionally, the room is much more acoustically sound which allows the band to practice in a better environment.”

“We now have plenty of storage lockers, so everything will be much more organized,” Scozzaro added. “It gives a sense of pride for the students to have a room that is their own and one of the best facilities in all of New Jersey. It will allow the students to focus more on music making and in the end raises the overall level of band and music department. We couldn’t be happier with the new space. We want to thank the administration for continually supporting the music program. This was their idea to create a new room and we want to thank them for all they do for us.”

Lisa Swanick, West Essex Supervisor of Fine, Performing and Practical Arts, said the new larger band room “added much needed storage and an acoustically sound rehearsal space which allows for small and large group instruction.”

“The new facility allows us to further expand instruction with the ability to integrate music recording technology and use other district technology resources in the music classes. The overall update has also given a boost to West Essex pride.”

The renovations were funded by the district and cost $669,088.

Students are also excited about the new facilities. “I love it!” said junior Abby Zimmermann as she removed her instrument from storage before a recent rehearsal. “It is new and better and it is like my second home.”

Nick Candarella said the new band room improves the quality of the band’s sound. “It is unbelievable,” the junior from Fairfield said. “The resonation is perfect.”

Information and photo courtesy of Allison Freeman, Manager of Communications & Community Outreach, West Essex Regional Schools.