Teaching assistants from the award-winning Illinois State University String Project visited 21 Bloomington-Normal elementary schools throughout the month of September as part of their annual community service mission and recruitment efforts for the program’s beginning third- and fourth-grade class.
Under the guidance of Dr. Katherine Lewis, professor of viola and the director of the String Project, the teaching assistants gave presentations and demonstrations to engage students and spark interest in joining a string orchestra program outside of what is typically offered in schools, precisely what the ISU String Project provides in our community.
The superhero-themed demonstrations, written and produced by Lewis and performed by 16 Illinois State University student teaching assistants, highlighted the special “powers” of each instrument, showcasing their unique sounds and characteristics. Presentations included several solo demonstrations and an ensemble performance by the teaching assistants.
Parkside Elementary School music teacher Corey Beirne has been an advocate of the program for many years. On Wednesday, September 10, String Project teaching assistants visited Beirne’s third- and fourth-grade music class.
“It is one of the highlights of the early school year to have the String Project visit our school each year,” Beirne said. “Playing an instrument gives students social, physical, academic, and emotional benefits, and I’m so glad the ISU String Project provides that additional opportunity to put those instruments in their hands.”
Many of Beirne’s students shared their excitement following the visit.
“I like the viola; it sounds so mysterious!” said one student.
“They look like they’re having fun when they play, and I want to do that too,” said another.
“My sister played the cello in the String Project, and I could hear her practice and get better and better. Now she’s really good, and I want to get better too,” another student added.
As a result of these recruitment events, a large and excited group of children and families attended the program’s Fall Information Night for beginning students. The beginning class, taught by Lewis and a team of ten undergraduate and graduate students, has close to 40 new string players who started learning their instruments at the end of September.
Lewis remarked, “The level of professionalism, energy, and enthusiasm that our ISU student teachers demonstrated at these school visits was among the most engaging I’ve seen during my 20-year tenure at ISU. I’m proud of how hard our student teachers worked on their recruiting and community service efforts, and excited to begin our year of teaching and learning in the ISU String Project.”
The Illinois State University String Project is an after-school music program that offers low-cost instruction on stringed instruments to children in third to eighth grade. The program supports existing public school string programs and provides a string education to children who are homeschooled or enrolled in schools where no string program is available.
Students currently enrolled in the String Project will present a fall concert on Friday, December 12, at 7 p.m. in the Center for the Performing Arts, Concert Hall.
For more information, visit the Illinois State University String Project website. Follow the Illinois State University String Project on Facebook.
