Sweet
reprise for music class
Programs flourish as school instructors tap
an increase in students and funding
Sunday, August 22, 2004 • BY BEV McCARRON •
Star-Ledger Staff
Because her son had some down time this summer, Ping Wei
decided it was a good opportunity for him to learn
violin.
Steven Wan, who is 10, agreed. The lessons with his
school's orchestra teacher taught him how to turn an
earsplitting screech into a smooth, melodious sound and to
discern the difference between a G and an F sharp.
All of which he hopes will give him a head start when he
begins his fifth-grade instrumental music class in
Bridgewater this fall, a program teeming with budding
musicians.
"I wanted to learn earlier than most people," said
Steven, who would like to earn a good spot in the school
orchestra this year.
Music instructors across the state are seeing lots of
eager students coming into their programs. Though threatened
by budget cuts in past years, music programs are
flourishing, buoyed by parents attuned to the benefits of
playing a string or band instrument and by research
suggesting a link between music and academic success.
"Music is alive and well," said Robert F. Porecca, music
supervisor in Edison, where the district this summer hired
two new strings instructors.
A decade ago, school music programs appeared doomed,
with instruction relegated to rolling carts moved from class
to class. They were pushed aside by tight budgets and a
renewed focus on an academic curriculum.
"Twenty years ago, I got a real estate license because I
was afraid of my job being cut," said Gordon Tedeschi, high
school orchestra director in East Brunswick, which today
boasts one of the state's top high school orchestras. "I
don't think there's that fear anymore."
Music directors point to several reasons why their
programs are enjoying renewed success. A huge enrollment
boom has given the schools more kids to work with and a
bigger parent base willing to spring for private lessons and
fight for programs at budget time.
And many of the newcomers are immigrants bringing a love
of music from their homelands, whose children are swelling
the ranks of bands and orchestras.
Recent findings by College Board, which administers the
SAT, haven't hurt either. Its data show students who perform
or have taken music courses score higher in math and verbal
sections than students overall.
"Research says that the study of music is positive for
children in terms of development," said music supervisor
John Leister of Madison. This fall, 92 percent of Madison
fourth-graders will start in the district's instrumental
program.
Newark parent Linda Ervin, who has nine children, all of
whom participated in some way in school music programs,
didn't need research to convince her.
"It helps them just in terms of structure and
discipline, and even in memory," said Ervin, whose
second-youngest son, Ervin Cato, 14, plays alto sax in high
school. "It sharpens their skills all the way around."
Nick Santoro, director of fine arts for South
Orange-Maplewood and also the past president of the New
Jersey Music Educators Association, said school strings
programs are seeing tremendous growth, especially in
districts with Asian-Indian populations.
In Edison, with a concentrated immigrant population,
children are coming into the third and fourth grade already
able to play a stringed instrument.
"The strings are not Americana; band is Americana.
Football and band go together," Porecca said. "In the Asian
culture, in India, strings are big. It's one of the reasons
the program is really jumping through the roof."
Music teachers also note the state has made performing
arts one of its graduation requirements, which they say
sends a message about the value of learning music.
Newark has seen the highs and lows of a music program
once recognized throughout the state, until budget cuts
stripped instruction from many schools.
With an infusion of money from the state, and a
commitment by Superintendent Marion Bolden to restore
programs, music teachers are back in most of the schools.
Schools also have been restocked with instruments from
various donors, according to supervisor of music William
May.
Just about every school has some kind of program --
jazz, symphony, chorus or dance.
"We're experiencing growth to the point where we're
having difficulty getting enough music teachers in this
district," May said. "So if you know any, send them
here."
Ervin has seen the transformation.
This summer, her son was able to join a brand-new jazz
program offered by the school district, giving up three
weeks of his time to practice. It culminated in a
performance at a Newark jazz club.
That's not to say there haven't been some sour notes. In
South Orange-Maplewood, the district has shifted the start
of its instrument instruction program from fourth to fifth
grade as a way to save on staff, said Peg Roberts, orchestra
director in the high school.
"There's a lot of kids who play, and so at this point
it's still a strong program," she said. "But I'm worried
about the future of it."
But drop in at any music store across the state at this
time of year, and there will be plenty of elementary parents
signing up for instruments, picking out a music stand or
buying beginner books.
Nick Marino, owner of the Music Shop in Boonton, has
been in the business for 26 years and rents instruments to
kids. As one of the state's major instrument suppliers, he
works with 250 school districts. He said he sees more
children playing instruments today than ever before.
Among them is Morgan Menzies, 10, a fifth-grader at
Bridgewater-Raritan who is going to play the violin. And
Sara Memoli, 12, who plays the viola. Both took summer
lessons at Eisenhower School from orchestra teacher Lisa
Gaudet.
While the adults talk about lessons to be learned from
music, the kids don't have such lofty thoughts in mind.
"I just think of playing music as fun and as a way to
relax," said Sara, who will continue with the viola for a
third year when she enters the seventh grade in fall.
Bev McCarron covers education. She can be reached at
bmccarron@starledger.com or at (908) 429-9925.
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