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Significance to Santa Monica and Westside Families

On February 23-26, 2005 Samohi Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Ms.Joni Swenson won the National Orchestra Festival and earned Superior rating at ASTA annual Conference "Strings Alive! in 2005". This win consolidates a recognition of SMMUSD* music program as the best in the nation. For more on this, please read an article "Salute to Samohi Symphony Orchestra and its Director Ms.Joni Swenson on a Win at ASTA National Festival!"

Nationally acclaimed SMMUSD annual music concert "Stairway To The Stars" also provides great inspiration and the wonderful cause to follow. While it is not accessible to students from Westside private schools or neighboring school districts, all families deserve an opportunity to nurture children in a rich string traditions developed by Dr.Suzuki, Dr.L.Auer, Dr.Y.Menuhin, many other generous string educators.

Playing string instrument is a challenge in itself. Unlike piano and other music instruments, there are no definite keys to play on. A string player has to hear a sound to play it correctly. That is why during music lessons teachers develop students musical hearing and intonation. It serves not only academically, but also on a health nurturing level.

Newly discovered SuperString Theory opened door for new answers toward an eternal question: why music is so special throughout a human history? Here is a short answer: played instrument vibrates a string and it resonates superstrings of body cells on a nano level. This way strings of the played instrument nurture a player internally and externally.

Internationally renown Colburn Music School is located in downtown Los Angeles, near Los Angeles Philharmonic. Despite of high traffic and late hours some Westside parents drive their children to the Colburn Music School on a weekly basis, other parents give up on the humiliating transportation they face and search for a local solution regarding group or small ensemble playing and performances.

Dedication of such Westside parents served as one of primary reasons for me to introduce violin ensemble playing classes through SMC Continuing Education Department. Believe me, it was not easy! String program "Violin Ensemble Classes for Youth" strives to support string music programs at local schools as well as private string teachers. To motivate students to practice is a challenge to any educator and ensemble setting is one effective way to do that.

Every Summer hundreds of students, their parents and music teachers gather to play together their violins in the annual Suzuki Summer Institute at Occidental College. Every Fall Los Angeles Chapter of Suzuki Association invites students to play-in at different locations. Suzuki method is based on mother tongue principle which encourages every student to learn violin in a way child learns to speak her/his native language. Nobody places high expectations on a child to become a professional violinist. The purpose here is to develop all-around student who is able to face, analyze and creatively solve educational problems and real life situations. Los Angeles Suzuki events are so highly participated and enjoyed by all participants. It seems that Santa Monica and Westside communities are missing something big without similar Suzuki performances.

Music program funding at Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District has its own ongoing challenges to keep it going. Check the link of Santa Monica / Malibu Coalition for Music Education for current opportunities to be involved. More efforts are regularly searched from parents, music teachers, educators to keep music learning viable in Santa Monica schools. With this in mind, area music teachers work diligently to provide high quality and continuity.

SMC administration is gracious to extend a helpful hand. While facilities at SMC are in great demand during the weekdays, Sunday afternoons are the only possible solution at the SMC. Violin classes here are held in Spring and Fall cycles for six Sunday afternoons in a row. Classes already proved to be viable, and therefore SMC is willing to make them regular for a benefit of Santa Monica and Westside families. Everyone is encouraged to apply for a very affordable violin classes in a wonderful environment of Santa Monica College Madison campus under a guidance of professional violin teacher. Parking is free (because of Sunday).

Dr. Suzuki promoted "a mother-tongue" concept that every child, who learned to talk, may learn to play violin. This is a wonderfully nurturing philosophy and through our violin ensemble classes (group lessons) I strive to enrich every student with playful hands, bow, violin playing exercises. Usually we are having a good time. I invite every parent to consider such a priceless opportunity to "reach for the stars" through our violin classes. Who knows, maybe in nearest future your child also will play in Honor Orchestra of the "Stairways", even at prestigious national or international concerts with acclaimed Samohi Symphony Orchestra.

Every dream starts with a small step. Just take it today with our SMC violin class and you will wonder tomorrow! Hope violin playing will bring you a challenge and a joy of a lifetime, as it did to famous scientist Albert Einstein.