Ector County ISD’s fifth-grade string program is coming back.
It went away when sixth grade was moved to middle school, Fine Arts Director Aaron Hawley said. Secondary teachers are helping out at the elementary level.
“… We’re just using the resources that we have at our disposal. If the programs grow extensively, then we’ll have to look at additional staffing …,” Hawley said.
The program right now impacts 150 to 175 students, but those numbers are changing a little bit, Fine Arts Coordinator Shari Riley said.
Schools that have the program right now are Reagan, Jordan, Dowling, LBJ, Noel and San Jacinto elementary schools. Riley said they hope to start the program at Gonzales Elementary and Hays STEAM Academy in the spring.
When the new schools are added, anywhere from 12 to 15 fifth-grade students could be added per school. Riley added that the parents have to be involved in the process.
Some parents have rented or even purchased instruments for their students, but that’s not always the case.
“Were going to make a very special thank-you to the Rea Charitable Trust that provided $35,000 for us to purchase school-owned instruments for the students and then the school district was able to match that. The goal is that every student be able to participate regardless of their parents’ financial ability to support that ability to purchase an instrument,” Hawley said.
Riley noted that the district provides the larger instruments even up into high school such as basses.
Milam Magnet Elementary has the Suzuki strings program.
These fifth graders have had five years of basic skills with their campus music teachers and six if they were in prekindergarten, Riley said.
“They are ready to start an instrument and transfer the skills and concepts that they’ve learned in general music into a performance-based class,” she added.
Riley said they are adding campuses, some as soon as the next semester.
“It’s been a challenge for us to acquire instruments, especially for elementary students because they are not playing the same size instruments that the high school and middle school kids are playing. Younger kids have to play a … smaller instrument in order to learn,” Riley said.
The goal is to implement the program at all elementary campuses that have fifth graders over the next three years. Riley said this is so students have the chance to participate in strings and orchestra.
Hawley said it gives students a sample of what it will be like in sixth grade. He added that the district has sought ways to help students with the transition between fifth and sixth grade.
He added that the students will see teachers form the secondary level, so when they transition to the upper grades, they’ll be able to put a name with a face. It’s not in every case, but they’ll have that familiar experience.
“It’s a win-win for the secondary people because even if they choose to do a different music elective in middle school, that year of participation in orchestra is great preparation even for band because they’re reading music, they’re holding an instrument. It’s just a win-win all around,” Riley said.
Hawley said they want to allow students to learn an instrument as early as possible with their peers across the state.
“The interest is definitely there, especially with students and parents. They are so excited to be on board, to be involved with something new. The students with the exception of one campus who has a little big of a different schedule … are still attending their regular music class. Strings is an addition to the music they’re getting during their regular music class. It is not in place of,” Riley said.
According to a Scientific American article from 2010, studies have shown that “assiduous instrument training from an early age can help the brain to process sounds better, making it easier to stay focused when absorbing other subjects from literature to tensor calculus.”
“Discerning subtleties in pitch and timing can also help children or adults in learning a new language,” the article says.
