I just thought you'd like an update on our very first Strings Attached program. Amanda Baer and I went to Oakland School this afternoon, and worked with Mrs. Wells' 3^rd grade class (22 students - more or less. They kept moving and were hard to count!)

When we first went in, the students were all sitting quietly at their desks, with their hands folded. Needless to say, the peace didn't last long! We started out by asking the students if they knew why we were there. They did - obviously, Mrs. Wells had prepped them well for our visit! They were extremely excited, yet well behaved. We talked for 15-20 minutes, and started by asking them questions about what they thought it was like to play in an orchestra, what was their favorite instrument, did they play an instrument, etc., etc. We then talked about our own personal experiences (playing in an orchestra, playing in a pit orchestra, and meeting celebrities - and I brought out the picture of myself with Chewbacca from the John Williams concert. The kids LOVED it!) One of the girls had brought a picture of her grandmother, who had sung with a band back in the 50s - I'm guessing from the clothes and the car that it was the 50s - and we talked about having music in your life for a long time. I asked the students how old their mothers were (the first answer was 41) - and I told them I'd been playing with the LSO almost as long as their parents had been alive, and they asked me when I started playing viola (answer: 4^th grade)! Then Amanda told them that her violin was three times as old as their parents (and we did the math to figure out how old her violin was). We kept the conversation going by asking questions, calling on the students for answers, and then sharing our own experiences. Keep in mind, this whole time they haven't seen the violins yet - Amanda and I had lined them up in their cases in the hallway. I then showed them a YouTube video of "Nuttin But Stringz" that was taken from a British children's show. In addition to the Escobar brothers playing, there are lots of graphics and kids dancing to the music. I talked about how the younger brother started playing violin when he was 8, and his got his brother interested. They both studied at Julliard and recently took 3^rd place on "America's Got Talent." (I think they should have won, but....) By this point, the kids were really getting excited. When I asked them if they'd like to try playing the violin, the unanimous response was a rousing "Yes!"

We had the students line up in a single file at the door, and quietly go out in the hall to pick up a violin, and bring them back to their desks. At this point, the students were almost vibrating with excitement. We opened the cases together, and they took the violins out, but them under their chins (most of them got it right the first try) and we showed them how to pluck the strings. (Note for future presentations: Tune the violins BEFORE taking them into the classrooms!) We then got them pressing their fingers down on the strings to change the pitch. We let them play that way for a while, and then I started hearing "Jo - when can we use the sticks" so Amanda and I showed them how to hold the bow and rub it across the strings to make "music." It was at this point that the principal came in and started snapping pictures. We let the kids play their hearts out, and circulated throughout the room, giving help, tips and pointers as needed. We really just turned the students loose and let them go. (The principal likened the sound to a hornet's nest.)

We finally wrapped things up about 10 'til 2, and had the students pack the violins back into the cases. Several of the students really wanted to keep the violins, but I told them I had to visit more classes next week, and I'd need all of them! Then, one little girl yelled "Jo - you can't go!" and ran up and threw her arms around me. The next thing I knew, I was in the middle of an immense group hug. What an incredible, spontaneous moment! (Amanda, the smart one, had snuck out in the hallway. I'm not sure she saw me disappear under the press of all 22 students!)  Mrs. Wells came to my rescue, and herded the students off to the library.

We had another class of 39 students today at Murdock Elementary with the same results.  It's great to hear that our programs are spreading the joy of music to the students!