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BSO to start music program for city students
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BSO director Marin Alsop speaks with students at Harriet Tubman Elementary School in Baltimore after she unveiled “OrchKids,” an after-school music program that will bring music education and instruments to the school. – Kristine Buls/Examiner
BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Providing children an early appreciation of music can have a positive ripple effect for years to come. But it can also help classroom concentration and enhance achievement in subjects like math and science.
With those sentiments in mind, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra — in partnership with a diverse group of partners including Baltimore City Public Schools — on Tuesday unveiled OrchKIds, an after-school music initiative aimed at developing music interest among first-graders.
The program combines music and mentorship and was inspired by a model in Venezuela called El Sistema, which currently involves 3,000 students.
OrchKids participants will start out engaged three days a week in age-appropriate music instruction and enrichment classes. During the second half of the school term, they will be introduced to different musical instruments before choosing their own instruments and beginning lessons.
BSO Music Director Marin Alsop said the program’s objective is to use music to garner systemic change and nurture students in low-income neighborhoods like those attending Harriet Tubman Elementary School in West Baltimore. OrchKids’ pilot program will start there next fall involving about 25 students with a first-year budget set at $250,000. In subsequent years, several schools are expected to participate, and previous students will mentor new participants.
“We worked with a variety of groups to identify Tubman because of its music [programs] and parental involvement,” Alsop said. “Playing instruments builds self-esteem in individual and fosters their ability to learn math and science,” Alsop said during the assembly at Tubman to announce the program.
Schools CEO Andres Alonso, who also spoke about the project, said research has revealed that children exposed to music early on are better able to concentrate during class. Early exposure to music “gives children the opportunity to better understand [as well as] expand their [musical] connections,” he said.
BSO is the largest cultural organization in Maryland, and Alsop said the organization feels all children who live within five miles of the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall should know about the symphony orchestra.
She said BSO musicians will work with the students and that many of the musicians will mentor students through school visits or by having the children sit in on rehearsals at the concert hall.
Tubman Principal Yvonne Canion also shared her excitement.
She said it was important for students to develop an interest in music as early as possible.
“Initially, they have to focus so much on details of the notes,” she said. “However, it will ultimately flow into their passion and become so much a part of what they are.”
Asked if he had ever played a musical instrument, Alonso paused and then smiled.
“I would love to have learned to play the piano or guitar, but I never did and it’s been a big regret,” he said. “I see a lot people who play instruments and I feel envious of their abilities, and I don’t want it to be that way for our students in Baltimore City schools.”
drowley@baltimoreexaminer.com
