LAPLACE — With the help from a grant, LaPlace Elementary School has its first music program in more than a decade.

Thanks to VH1 Save The Music, for the $30,000 grant, and Toyota, for the instruments, 41 sixth through eighth graders are able show off their musical talents.

LaPlace Elementary Band Instructor Jeremy Rodrigue said the school received confirmation it was going to receive the grant over the summer.

“The instruments came in August,” he said. “We got clarinets, saxophones, flutes, trombones, trumpets and drums. The students started practicing with the instruments Sept. 1.

“The students were very excited for the new instruments. They get to take them home and practice. That’s very exciting for them. They didn’t have to pay any fees to be in the band this year.”

LaPlace Elementary is the second St. John the Baptist Parish public school to receive the grant. Emily C. Watkins was the beneficiary two years ago.

“Overall, this is great for the students,” Rodrigue said. “So many of them are talented, and they would never know that side of their talent without having an instrument placed in their hands. I love the sound of instruments. I’ve always been a music enthusiast. I heard a quote once that said ‘when you teach students music, you educate the whole student.’ I really believe that’s true.”

Principal Alison Cupit said she feels student achievement would increase the more music education is incorporated daily.

“It’s exciting to see the talent in our students,” she said. “These students have only been on the instruments a month, and it’s phenomenal to see what they can do.”

Twelve of the students got to demo their new instruments to their fellow classmates and VH1 Save The Music and Toyota representatives Friday afternoon when a few students from each section showed off their skills.

Before the performances began, Superintendent Kevin George and School Board Member Russ Wise spoke to the crowd.

“This has been a long time coming,” George said. “Nothing makes me feel better than walking into a building and hearing singing, music playing and kids happy. Today is a day of celebration to showcase what we can do here in St. John the Baptist Parish. We are so proud of you, and we are so proud of the school.”

When Wise took the microphone one of the first things he did was thank the students.

“I’m so proud of these kids here and Mr. Rodrigue,” he said. “I came in a year ago and (Rodrigue) was teaching a class without any instruments. He was teaching kids, many of you, what music is all about. That music involves thinking, as well as playing. He taught there is rhythm and tone and there is a lot more that goes into this then tooting around on a horn.”

VH1 Save The Music representative Chiho Feinder said the foundation has been around since 1997 and has helped more than 1,960 schools.

“We really believe having music education is crucial in every day school life,” Feinder said. “We believe a complete education should have a music program. It is our goal to put a band program in every single elementary school here in the parish in the next couple of years.”

Feinder said they couldn’t have done this alone, and thanked Toyota for the instruments.

Toyota representative Kathy Mota said music is important in her life, as she said she is sure it’s an important part of LaPlace Elementary students’ lives, as well.

“We are super excited to be partnering with VH1 Save The Music foundation to invest in improving the quality of music education in public schools,” she said. “We are honored to be here at LaPlace Elementary.”

After the different representatives spoke, the crowd was treated to a special concert by Santigold, who’s sophomore album “Master of My Make Believe” became her first No. 1 album, topping the billboard dance/electronic albums chart.

She even invited a few students on stage to dance along with her as background dancers during one of her songs

The day’s final showcase involved 12 band students who performed some of the things they learned in the short month of practicing with their instruments.