A new family of instruments has joined the Oxford school district’s traditional mix of brass, woodwind and percussion, and students are turning out in droves to play them.
‘We have students that are still signing up and joining the program. It’s growing as we speak,? said teacher Nady Benyamine, who’s spearheading the formation of Oxford’s new string orchestra program.
A total of 91 students at Oxford Middle School are currently learning to play the violin, viola, cello or double bass under Benyamine or the other orchestra teacher, Dr. Jui-Chao Wang. The school is running four classes five days a week to accommodate the demand.
Benyamine, who personally teaches three of the classes, was amazed at how eager the students are to learn.
‘They’re already learning things that I’m not even teaching them,? he said. ‘They’re figuring out things on their own.?
Not only are the students learning, they’re enjoying themselves, which was evident by the way they interacted with Benyamine during class.
‘They’re just having a blast here,? he said. ‘It’s a lot of fun for them.?
As pleased as he was with the middle school program, Benyamine was absolutely blown away by the response to the elementary level program that began Monday.
A total of 128 fourth and fifth-graders from Leonard, Lakeville, Oxford and Clear Lake elementaries signed up to learn a string instrument.
‘The turnout was mind-boggling compared to what we expected,? said Benyamine, who noted it was originally anticipated anywhere from 30-40 elementary students would participate. ‘We’re basically making history here in Oxford, even in the state of Michigan.?
Unlike the middle school program, which is part of the curriculum as a graded course, the elementary program is starting off as an extracurricular activity.
The elementary string program meets before school, from 7:55 to 8:25 a.m., five days a week at Lakeville and Oxford elementaries.
Leonard parents must drive their kids to Lakeville for the lessons while Clear Lake parents must transport their students to Oxford Elementary. Buses take the students back to respective schools when the lesson is over.
‘It’s a big commitment for many of these students,? Benyamine said. ‘They have to come everyday.?
Originally, Benyamine was planning to hold the elementary lessons in the schools? music rooms, but due to the size, the Lakeville group (47 students) is playing in the media center, while the OES group (81 students) is jamming in the gym every morning.
Benyamine believes the school district’s choice to invest approximately $205,000 (which includes two teachers, sheet music, instruments, etc.) in developing a string orchestra program will be most beneficial in motivating students to develop intellectually and achieve academically.
‘Music, especially in strings, is very involved with other subjects like math and science and history,? he explained.
From the physics and acoustics of sound to the rich history of music from around the world to the counting and rhythms involved in playing, Benyamine said learning a string instrument ‘dramatically enhances (students) in all areas.?
And that includes social development.
In the classroom, music students ‘feed off each other? to create a ‘chemistry? that’s ‘very energetic,? according to Benyamine.
‘You can tell the difference between students that are playing an instrument and those that aren’t,? he said.
Parents and the community will be able to see and hear how far their little musicians have progressed on Friday, Dec. 5 when both the middle school and elementary string orchestras will put on holiday concerts at the OHS Performing Arts Center. Both groups will return to the PAC on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 to put on spring concerts.
Plans are already in the works to expand the string orchestra program to OHS for the 2009-10 school year.
‘I’ve met several string players at the high school who are playing on their own that really want a string orchestra,? Benyamine said.
These older, more seasoned players combined with this year’s eighth-grade orchestra students should allow Benyamine to form a ‘small, chamber orchestra group? at OHS.
He also hopes the elementary program will eventually become a regular class as opposed to an extracurricular offering. ‘It would be easier for parents and students to participate,? Benyamine noted.
At some point, Benyamine would like to do string performances that incorporate other instruments, such as flutes, guitars and percussion, as well as choir members.
For now, Benyamine’s concentrating on building a solid foundation for the new strings program. He’s definitely grateful for the enthusiastic reception he’s received thus far.
‘I’m very pleased with the support that’s here in the district from everybody, from the administration, from the faculty, from the students,? he said. ‘There’s a lot of support here in Oxford for building a really solid orchestra program. I’m just honored to be part of that.?