THE SUZUKI VIOLIN INITIATIVE IN CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA
Public schools in Clark County offer students the opportunity to learn to play string, percussion, and wind instruments in grades 6-12. Many parents that have the financial means however often place children in private music instruction when their child is 3 or 4 years old. This early start gives these students a tremendous advantage when auditioning for magnet school programs as they often have 6 or more years of music instruction when compared to children of low income families. This advantage continues as children approach high school graduation and compete for the limited music scholarships.
We believe that if talented children from low income families are provided the opportunity to learn music at an early age, they will be able to compete for magnet programs and scholarships and be evaluated on their talent rather than years of experience and instruction playing an instrument.
Our goal is to develop a community youth orchestra from students living in the area surrounding the East Las Vegas Community/Senior Center. Kindergarten age children will be recruited from the various elementary schools in this community and offered Suzuki Violin instruction at little or no cost based on family resources. Our instructional model requires for each student to have an adult mentor which can be a parent or relative that will attend each of the lessons and supervise/assist practice at home. Each student will be provided with an instrument and music and will receive a 30 minute private or semi private lesson per week and a 30 minute weekly group lesson. Instruction will follow Suzuki methodology and will be provided by a trained Suzuki instructor. This approach trains students in classical music thus exposing them to the great composers of the world.
Our program will initially recruit students from Sunrise Acres Elementary School and eventually expand to include students from other elementary schools in the surrounding area.
Please view the video below to learn about Suzuki Violin Instruction at the Lucy Moses School which is part of the Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center in New York.
