By Christina Stolarz
Jackson Citizen Patroit
Staff Writer
Monday - Febraury 25, 2002 - page A-1

Elizabeth and Rachel Wilson always felt an affinity for music.

Growing up in a musically inclined family, the 9-year-old twins followed in their older sister's footsteps and took an interest in the violin when the opportunity and the instruments were presented to them.

And they're not alone.

More than 60 elementary students in Jackson County are learning to play stringed instruments through the Jackson Symphony Orchestra After‑School String Program for Children at Risk, said Mary Spring, JSO development director.

"I want to play in the symphony," said Rachel, a fourth-grader at Bennett Elementary School, who thinks she'd make a great teacher one day. "If someone messes up, I can help them out."

The after school program, one of the JSO's community outreach programs, targets all Jackson County second through fifth-­graders who may have academic and social problems, Spring said. Its goal is to provide a safe after school environment for children to learn, while building self-esteem through accomplishments and introducing positive role models.

"A door opened up and the violins came at no cost and I'm just grateful," said Elizabeth and Rachel's mother, Pamelia Terrell. "It's wonderful to have a break."

The children are selected for the program by music teachers and counselors. Then they attend the after school music lessons, taught by Brian Peterson, JSO music teacher and Jackson native.

Spring said children who are exposed to music are in the top one third of their class, despite their social and economic backgrounds.

"They engage in positive activities in the community," she said. "Music can be used across the board. Everyone should get a chance to do it."

The program loans instruments to the children for $16 per year, which covers the instrument's insurance. The children are responsible for the instruments for the duration of the program and are allowed to take them home to practice.

After raising eight other children, Terrell said she wouldn't have been able to afford violin lessons for her daughters if it weren't for the program.

"I love music and the girls do, too," she said. "Hopefully, it will get them into college. This is their opportunity."

Susie Farr, Jackson Public School "Project Success" spokeswoman, said that's what the program set out to accomplish.

"It just amazes me what after school does for the children," she said. "We have very bright, talented children in our community. who might not get to do those certain experiences. I think it opens their horizons."

Last year, there were 37 students in the program; now more than 60 young musicians are learning how to hold the stringed instruments and how to play music. Spring said many of the students decided to return for 6 second year of lessons.

"The best thing is that the kids are here because they want to be," he said. "They're just an excited group of students. This group really wants to play good."

To do that, he said, at-home practice and good attendance at after-school lessons, which began in October, are vital.

"I want to get a book of notes," Elizabeth Wilson said after playing "Hot Cross Buns" from memory. "I keep the notes in my head. That's how we learn."

Peterson set up a reward system that encourages the students to practice.

The children are awarded a points each semester for lesson and concert attendance, daily at home practice and bringing instruments to class. At the end of the semester, medals are handed out and points start back at zero so that everyone has a chance.

"We want to encourage kids," she said.

Not only did the program give Natasha Shimkus, an 8-year-old third­grader at Bennett Elementary School, the chance to play the violin, but it also reunited her with her father, Jim Shimkus, who lives in Georgia. She called her father to tell him how excited and serious she was about the lessons and as a surprise, he's buying her a violin for her birthday this month.

"I don't get to see my dad a lot," Natasha Shimkus said. "I'm starting to like instruments a lot more and I'm starting to take on more responsibility," which includes helping out around the house and practicing the violin.

"Dad might take it back if I mistreat my violin."

Natasha's stepfather, Tom Maki, said he was happy her dad was back in the picture.

Maki is impressed by how much she's changed in the past few months. "This has made a 100 percent improvement on 'Tasha," he said.

Natasha's not the only student helped by the program.

"The first day, they didn't even know what a violin looked like," said Meredith Mitchell, a: teacher's assistant and senior at Jackson High School. "Now, they can play five songs. They cannot learn enough.

"They'd go to class every day if we'd offer it."

Peterson instructs the music classes on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. at the JSO. To help out with transportation, which Spring said is the biggest problem, classes are on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:45 to 4 p.m. at Bennett and also are taught by Peterson.

The first concert took place in January and drew a large crowd of excited students and parents. The next concert is scheduled for May.

"For the concert, I was excited and scared at the same time," said

Dalila Payne, 10, a fourth-grader,' at Bennett. "When I got there, it didn't seem scary anymore, It was easy."

Timothy Williams, a Jackson High School freshman, was worried how his 7-year-old brother Tre' would perform.

"He's been practicing all the time at home," he said. "It's kind of annoying. I had to shut my door sometimes."

But Timothy Williams and his mother, Kelly Williams, are both, proud of Tre'.

"I think he's really good at picking up the music," she said at the concert. "You don't find too many' boys playing violin. I like it for'. that, too. It gives him exposure to those kinds of things."

Even though the program has, been a success, Spring said 'it wouldn't be possible without its many donors, such as members of' the Jackson Symphony Guild, the I Camp and Hurst foundations,; Jackson County 4-H programs and several individual and anonymous donors.

Also, the Jackson County Community Foundation's Healthy" Youth/Healthy Seniors fund donated a $12,000 grant to the after school program this year.

"Being an after-school program, they are doing a great job for youth," said Kimball Cartwright, the foundation's program officer. "They (the students) are benefiting from a variety of things. They have a safe place to go after school and they have a creative outlet."

© 2002 Jackson Citizen Patriot.
All rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission