It's been a while since we've posted anything about the Paterson Music Project. The students have come a long way in a few short weeks. As second graders, these students are not only learning to play their instruments and be musicians, but they are developing socially, mentally, and emotionally. They absorb every interaction and piece of information. They spend much of their day encountering and learning new things. Students spend their time in class not only adjusting to their instruments, but to learning how to work as a team, and how to meet high expectations. As second graders, energy is high but attention spans are short. When they first received their instruments, they were wild with excitement. This quickly evaporated as they realized how much focus, hard work, and repetition it takes to actually make music. For the violins and violas, they stand while they play. Initially, it was a process to get students to stand, in proper playing posture, ready all at the same time to begin playing even one note- instrument in the correct hand (distinguishing left from right, which isn't completely solid yet at age 7), bow grip perfect (pinky & thumb bent), no slouching, feet apart, "stay on your square, don't be too close to your neighbor!", eyes on conductor, "no raising your hand, we're not taking questions right now", etc...we would play a few notes and exercises and right when we began to hit a groove someone would beg to sit down. "Are we done? My arms hurt!".
As I said before, the students have grown so much since their initial few days with the instruments. On Thursday, we had our first large orchestra rehearsal (before we were doing small ensemble groups). They had had an hour of separate instrument instruction and were rallied into the cafeteria for yet another hour of playing (most of them standing the entire time). They played through their music for their upcoming concert with the New Jersey Youth Symphony and focused as a group, staying in their squares, going from ready position to playing position together, eyes on conductor, with focus and pride. Seeing them successfully playing in orchestra highlighted their maturity and social achievements just as much, if not more than their musical achievements. The group and team mentality is strong with these young students. Behavior issues, which were prominent in the beginning of the program, are giving way to characteristics of ownership, responsibility, and leadership. I can only imagine what this program will look like when these students are in fifth grade and have been playing for several years. They will be the leaders in the school, with new groups of second, third, and fourth graders behind them.
We look forward to the New Jersey Youth Symphony concert on April 20th where our students will get to perform on stage as a featured ensemble with their "big brother" orchestra. We have lots of work to do between now and then, but from watching the students in orchestra on Thursday, just seeing them go from ready positions to playing position as a team, I know that much has already been achieved.
