On May 7th, the stage in P.S.
206's auditorium was filled with pint-sized musicians, proudly holding shiny
instruments ranging from violins, to guitars, to French horns, to flutes.On May 7th, the stage in P.S.
206's auditorium was filled with pint-sized musicians, proudly holding shiny
instruments ranging from violins, to guitars, to French horns, to flutes.
In the audience, students attentively waited to see what their peers in The Salvation Army Phil Ramone Orchestra for Children had been up to.
The concert was one of several that the Orchestra-a collaborative
educational effort of The Salvation Army, legendary record-producer Phil Ramone
and others -put on for the Harlem elementary school in its pilot year.
Most of the 53 students, ages seven to ten, who signed up for the program
last fall, all from P.S. 206, had virtually no experience playing a musical
instrument. But after spending several hours a day each weeknight, and a half
day every other Saturday, studying a variety of musical genres such as pop,
jazz and hip hop, the children were now able to string notes together to play
full songs.
"The kids are getting better and better each day," said John Matella, assistant director of the Orchestra. This progress was more than apparent at the concert.
In their moment in the spotlight, a group of young drummers expertly mouthed the counts of the rhythms they played; a pair of French horn players treated the crowd to a rendition of the ‘90s pop hit, "I Like to Move It"; and a saxophonist brought down the house with a solo performance of "Lean on Me."
The overall goal of the Orchestra is not only to impart the joy that learning an instrument can bring to a child but also to help youngsters experience the countless benefits associated with music education, especially in light of the relentless budget cuts to music and arts in public schools.
Studies show that music and arts education have a direct positive correlation with students' performance and achievements, both inside and outside the classroom. Conversely, research demonstrates that schools which cut their music and arts programs show a decrease in morale and attendance and an increase in vandalism and disruptions.
by Caitlin Smith