Strings attached: Program teaches students about classical music

Instead of Corn Pops, Fall River, Mass., elementary school students are finding they've gotta have their classical music in the morning.

To fill that craving, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is pumping classical music into elementary schools across the region, including the Atlantis Charter, Greene, Holy Name and Silvia schools, through its Music in the Mornings program.

Through the program, students, teachers and school administrators are exposed to 31 composers over a five-year period.

Symphony Executive Director Lena Moniz said each week is dedicated to one composer, with the five-minute piece led by an introduction to the composer's style and facts about the piece being played that week.

Moniz said the program gives students an opportunity to gain knowledge and interest in various classical composers.

"Through the program the children start to become interested in particular instruments and composers," Moniz said. "It's also an opportunity to hear great music."

Symphony Music Director David MacKenzie noted that the music provides a natural start to the day.

"It centers you and gives the students a moment of peace to start the day," MacKenzie said.

There also appears to be other benefits, Moniz said.

She pointed out that educators have told her the use of classical music to start the day calms students, decreases tardiness and in some cases fills the void at schools that have had to drop music education programs.

The Music in the Morning program was brought here by MacKenzie, who saw its popularity on the West Coast.

MacKenzie said the popularity of the program in this region, with some 45 schools using it, does not come as a surprise.

"Once teachers saw how the program works it really became a no-brainer," MacKenzie said.

Expansion in this area is also taking place.

Moniz said discussions with administrators at the Connell and Doran schools are leading to the implementation of the program at those locations and talks with Watson and Tansey school leaders are in the works for continued expansion in the Spindle City. MacKenzie said plans are to have the program in every SouthCoast elementary school within the next three years.

To give students even more of an appreciation for classical music, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra hosted classes during a three-day period the first week of March at the Zeiterion Theatre.

MacKenzie said the live performances, which included interactive games, let students connect what they had heard with visual realities.

"When these children go and hear these musicians on stage they become excited at recognizing the piece and it becomes real to them," MacKenzie said.

Herald News