District to add string instrument program

Keystone Oaks School District is implementing a new elementary string instrument program for the 2018-19 school year that will be offered to students starting in third grade.

The strings program will be offered at all three of the district’s elementary schools: Fred L. Aiken, Dormont and Myrtle Avenue.

Third-, fourth- and fifthgraders will be able to sign up and try out for the strings program during the first few weeks of the new school year and can choose from bass, cello, viola or violin.

The school district has been working with the Arts Education Collaborative of Pittsburgh for the past few years to review its art and music department’s curriculum and program offerings.

The collaborative recommended starting strings in third grade because the instruments tend to be more difficult to play than traditional band instruments, said district spokesperson Sarah Welch. Additionally, starting early prepares students to read music for future music programs.

The district conducted a student survey and held an “instrument petting zoo” in May where students could try out the string instruments and the district could gauge interest.

Strings teacher Thomas Duxbury said the strings program will be beneficial to students.

“To give them the choice to play a string instrument broadens their musical options beyond the vocal and band offerings we already have,” Mr. Duxbury said.

Having a strings program gives the district a more complete music program, he pointed out.

“The students will be able to start their string journey in third grade instead of the typical fourth grade start,” Mr. Duxbury said. “We felt that an early third-grade start would get them excited to learn an instrument and potentially keep them interested in music,” he said.

Students will have strings lessons once during the sixday rotation schedule and will be expected to practice at home.

The district will have a cello and a bass that will remain in the school buildings because they are too big for students to carry. The other instruments will be rented by families and will travel between home and school.

After third grade, Mr. Duxbury said the students can choose to keep playing their string instrument or they can explore a band instrument in fourth grade.

“Ideally, this excitement in strings will get the students to become lifelong music learners in whatever musical path they choose,” Mr. Duxbury said.

The goal of the program is to give students more opportunities to reap the benefits of playing an instrument while providing them with a well-rounded education, said Ms. Welch, the district spokesperson.

“Just as the elementary STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and kindergarten art integration programs are positively impacting student learning, we are confident that this new music program will do the same,” she said.

The district budgeted $41,000 for program supplies and will be adding 1½ teachers for the upcoming school year.