Having Fun = Huge Participation Rate

Zane Kaiser loves his job. “I literally enjoy what I do,” says the Band and Orchestra Director at Justice Page Middle School in the Tangletown neighborhood of South Minneapolis.

Justice Page bills itself as “an inclusive community committed to the success of each learner. We pursue growth, justice and positive change while celebrating our differences, expanding our curiosity, and having fun.”

The outgoing and energetic Kaiser takes the “fun” part very seriously, and, one could say, it is part of his teaching DNA. The numbers show that the fun has rubbed off on the middle schoolers. With a student population of roughly 1,000, around 700 to 750 students were involved in music during the 2024-2025 academic year — a whopping 70% to 75% student participation rate. “It’s a great percentage. We love it,” says Kaiser, whose main instrument is the bassoon.

The percentage is even more impressive because music is not a requirement for graduation. An art credit is required, which could be music, theater or visual arts. Of the 700 to 750 students who are in music by choice, Kaiser teaches about 450 of them in band and orchestra.

“Fifty to 75 students are multi-instrumentalists at our school, meaning they are in band and orchestra, playing different instruments and keeping up the practice/work to do so,” Kaiser explains.

A Multi-Prong Approach

Kaiser’s enthusiasm and commitment to fun in and out of the classroom are invaluable in the multi-prong approach to recruitment and retention of students in the school’s variety of music programs. He cites the Minneapolis Public Schools‘ 5th grade band and orchestra program, now in its fifth year, as a big reason students are being fed into the middle school program. Others say that Kaiser is the reason students stay in the program. “Everyone is welcome at any level,” Kaiser adds.

COVID-19 put the kibosh on campus visits to recruit students at feeder schools, but visits are starting up again. There isn’t an auditorium or other space large enough for the student body, faculty and staff to gather for a concert. Kaiser’s remedy for that are jazz band or chamber orchestra performances — that are just 15 minutes in length — before the school bell rings.

“It’s important to get students in front of each other. The staff sees them, too, so they don’t mind excusing students for band practice,” says the smiling Kaiser.

“Word of mouth helps a lot. I live in the [school’s] neighborhood, and I see and talk to students as they walk or ride bikes to school. Neighbors see that we’re having fun, and they all spread the word about the music program,” says Kaiser.

Students should feel inspired to be a member of a musical group, Kaiser explains, and see themselves within the curriculum and repertoire because they could have the opportunity to create their own music, work on chamber music in small groups, meet music professionals and perform on campus and at local venues. All of it is fun.

A range of ensembles is offered at Justice Page Middle School. There are four levels of band and three levels of orchestra. The levels are based on ability but often follow grade levels. The large student numbers gave the music department bragging rights with the largest single class of the 2024-25 school year — 74 students in their top Wind Ensemble.

From Band Nerd to Music Educator and Conductor

A self-described “band nerd,” Kaiser fell in love with band in high school. Actually, it was his bad experience with band in middle school that steered his career choice of making a better music learning experience for his middle school students. “It’s been fun and healing,” says Kaiser, who was recognized as a 2025 Yamaha “40 Under 40” educator.

With his art teacher mother and musician dad (who specializes in a contemporary modern sound), Kaiser and his music always had support while growing up in Duluth. He graduated from University of Minnesota, Twin Cities with a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education with an emphasis on bassoon. He earned a master’s degree from the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where his final project was titled “Creating Community Through Sensory-Friendly Concerts in the Public School Setting.”

Kaiser’s teaching career began eight years ago when he taught at two schools, Justice Page and the then-Field Middle School. Three years later, the Minneapolis Public School District implemented their Comprehensive District Design, resulting in closed schools, merged schools, changed positions and general chaos. Field and Justice Page combined into Justice Page Middle School, and Field became Field Elementary School. Kaiser says he has roots at Justice Page and is committed to seeing what he can do there. “It has taken five years to get to this point,” he notes.

Previously, outside of his work for the school district he participated in The Medalist Concert Band, Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra and served as technical director of several musicals among other activities. Today he limits himself to conducting Camerate Vivace, a symphonic youth orchestra for students in middle and high school, with the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies. “We perform around five concerts a year both in the community and at our annual Fall/Spring Festivals at Orchestra Hall, home of the Minnesota Orchestra. The Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies commitment to equity, inclusion and high musical standards has been inspirational for my own practice along with the strong musical growth of our student musicians,” Kaiser says proudly.

Community, Fun and High Standards

Even while gardening or tending to his chickens, Kaiser is constantly thinking about his job and his students. Along with the requisite dollop of fun, the foodie and wine enthusiast wants to give students a more diverse set of offerings in the future, such as mariachi and jazz band.

Kaiser is of the philosophy that students learn the most when they feel that they are part of something. They are better in an ensemble because they are all there, a sum of the parts.

“I believe in community, fun and high standards for my kids. Plus, a goal-oriented approach. Slowly and surely, it’s happening at Justice Page,” he says. “Old school band orchestra … I’m not against it … I stand in front of them with a baton every day, but it’s time for a new approach.”

Inclusivity is one of his music program’s greatest strengths. “We have a little bit of everyone — athletes, artists, multi-lingual students, differently abled and culturally diverse kids — with a long performance background. We’re together. It’s always positive,” he says.

As Kaiser looks ahead to what he would like to accomplish, he always seeks ways to include more students in music programs while also expanding their world view through band and orchestra. “Music education can be a beautifully flexible and diverse field; all we need to do as teachers is to bring as many opportunities to our students as possible,” he sums up.

And don’t forget the fun.