There’s no such thing as a “former” musician.

Someone who played an instrument as a youngster can do so again as that ability to do so sunk deeply into that child’s DNA.

It stayed put.

That ability can be easily revived by picking up that old instrument and playing again — despite not having done so in decades.

So says, Sugar-Salem Junior High and High School band teacher Laurel Janke who recently put together the “Sugar Salem Community Band.”

“Once you have learned an instrument, it’s there for the rest of your existence,” she said. “You just have to refresh it. I welcome anyone who wants to play.”

The band is open to anyone from junior high band students to college students to working adults to grandparents whose instruments have been tucked away for years. Every instrument from saxophones to trumpets to flutes to trombones to tubas — you name it — is welcome.

The group practices at 5 p.m. every Thursday at the new Sugar-Salem Junior High School band room. The group plays a variety of music from patriotic to contemporary tunes.

Thanks to social media advertising, Janke rounded up a group of about 25 musicians — of all ages — who recently played during Sugar City’s Flood50 commemoration at the old Sugar City Junior High School. Plans call for the group to perform during St. Anthony’s annual Pioneer Day Parade. Janke also hopes to have an end of summer concert at Heritage Park later this year.

Janke and her husband, Jody, both grew up playing the trumpet and met while studying at the Provo, Utah-based Brigham Young University. There Laurel Janke earned a degree in music education and participated in the school’s marching band, jazz band and symphony.

The couple later went on to play in various community orchestras and bands wherever they lived. Jody’s job brought the family to the Newdale five years ago.

Last fall Laurel took over as a long-term substitute band teacher at the Teton School District where she worked from October to May. Shortly after, the Sugar-Salem School District came calling and offered Janke a job as its band director.

“I have spent the last 27 years working off and on,” she said. “I taught a couple different times at different schools for a year or a couple months as they’ve needed help. I raised my family. The stars aligned to teach, and there’s an opening in Sugar-Salem.”

Janke enjoys working with young musicians.

“I love connecting with the kids,” she said. “I feel that music is a great avenue for that connection.”

It’s not just about playing notes, Janke said.

“There’s a difference between playing notes and making music,” she said. “I love to see the light go on when they realize or hear how something came together, and it really works. It makes me happy.”

Not long after Janke took over at Sugar-Salem, she and her husband decided the Sugar-Salem region needed its own community band.

“I thought ‘Why not start another group to offer places for people to play?’” Lauren Janke said. “There was a need. I wanted somewhere to play, so why not start it up and give a place for other people to play?”

Sugar-Salem student Israel Harper, of Newdale, recently joined the band. He joined at the behest of his family.

“Mrs. Janke let my parents know,” he said.

Harper plays the clarinet.

“I don’t like instruments that don’t have a lot of fingering,” he said. “With the clarinet, I put my fingers over the holes. There’s something about using all your fingers rather than using your mouth to change the notes.”

Sugar City’s Mckay Robison, recently joined the band. Married and the mother of two children, Robison grew up playing the flute while living in Colorado.

Robison moved to the Upper Valley with her husband to attend Brigham Young University-Idaho. The couple enjoyed it so much here, they decided to stay.

Robison especially enjoys playing fast paced music.

“I love playing 16th notes. I love the challenge,” she said.

After seeing a Facebook post about the band, Robison joined.

“I wanted to play my flute more,” she said. “It plays beautifully. It’s still in tune.”

The band is a family affair for the Jankes as a son also plays the drums while another is a tuba player.

Jody Janke also plays in the band.

“I think it’s great. There’s quite a few people in the community who wanted something,” he said. “Hopefully, the band will provide them a chance to play and to continue to develop their talents. It will build a bridge between the community and the music department.”

Music is powerful, Laurel Janke said.

“Playing music is a great lift for your soul,” she said. “I believe sports are great. My kids are all athletic and musical but music gives something sports can’t. It’s so important for your soul and your brain. Your brain needs music.”

It also helps in learning, and Janke reported how one of her children stepped away from music for a time and found themselves struggling in school. As soon as they returned to the music program, things improved.

“Music rewires the brain,” she said.

Janke noted that music is an international language.

“We all speak music,” she said. “Even though musical terms are all in Latin, people from all over can come and hear music and feel connected,” she said.

It also unites young musicians, Janke said.

“In a band class you can have the high school football star, the computer geek, the cheerleader, the beauty queen, and the girl who is so shy she can’t speak, all come together and be one because of music. It’s an important part of school and life in general,” she said.

Janke has found the city and school principals extremely supportive of the community band. When residents find out about it, they want to join, she said.

“After our performance at Flood50, I had a couple of people contact me,” she said. “They ask ‘Can I join? I’d love to play.’”

For more information on the band, visit the Sugar-Salem Community Band Facebook page.