Abstract
Starting an Orchestra Program
Rockwall ISD Orchestra
The orchestra program in Rockwall Independent School District (RISD), Rockwall, Texas is flourishing. The program began with a little more than 150 students in fifth and sixth grades at 12 elementary schools in the RISD. It has grown to include all of RISD's elementary and secondary schools with approximately a 1,000 students in fifth through tenth grades.
How did the program get started, and why is it successful? It began with an idea, a plan, and the help of many dedicated people. The Rockwall community truly wanted an orchestra program in their schools and, fortunately, the school district willingly listened. As a result, a program was built. There are six steps as to why Rockwall ISD successfully started their orchestra program.
The school district and the community had a vision: To establish an orchestra so that every child can have a chance to play a string instrument. The seed was planted by the school board and families of the community. One must have a school board and administration that wants to reach every child through the arts, academics, and sports. The Rockwall ISD recognizes that all students have a purpose in learning to achieve. They recognize that not all students are meant to be the quarterback or the spirit leader. However, many students are meant to be in the fine arts. There was a group of students who were string players that needed to be given this opportunity.
The Rockwall ISD had a business plan. A five-year plan was established and implemented by the school board and the administration, including a capital outlay designed and approved to start and grow an orchestra program. The RISD Board of Trustees, former Superintendent Gene Burton, current Superintendent Jeff Bailey, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Debbie Koehn, and Director of Human Resources Michael Cope-land are the foundation and supporters for the orchestra and all of the fine arts in the Rockwall ISD. The school district then hired Tracy Davis to implement the next steps to starting a string program.
The first steps were to show the schools and the community what a string orchestra looked like and how it sounded. Information was sent to all of the schools through emails, letters, the local paper, and through the local music dealership asking for any student who was currently playing a string instrument in the Rockwall ISD to meet at Shannon Elementary for the very first Rockwall String Orchestra (RSO) rehearsal. Twenty-five players showed up. Their ages ranged from nine to 17 years old, and they rehearsed after school once a week. The RSO toured the elementary schools and the community playing and educating the community about orchestra and instruments.
The Rockwall String Orchestra played at the Harbor which is retail and dining area off of Lake Ray Hubbard. They also performed for the school board and various presentations for the school district.
The Dallas Morning News included an article. This was exciting for the RSO and was an excellent way for the Dallas area to know Rockwall ISD.
Elementary school students were surveyed after RSO played at each school to determine student response after hearing the orchestra and learning about string instruments.
The orchestra program began in the elementary schools in the fifth and sixth grades and every year following, it advanced into the middle schools and high schools.
Surround yourself with the best people. After the RSO was established, the Rockwall ISD hired two directors the following year.
Charlsie Griffiths and Ryan Ross directed 12 elementary orchestra programs with Tracy Davis; the original three. A schedule was designed so that the three directors were able to teach the fifth and sixth grade beginners, three times a week at each elementary school.
As part of the five-year growth plan, the school board knew that if the program was to succeed, additional staffing would be needed. However, the economy shifted and new staffing in our district was challenging to implement. Because of the number of students joining the orchestra program, new directors were needed. Presentations were shown to the school board showing the growth and the success of the program and its vision.
Rockwall ISD now has nine orchestra directors teaching fifth- and sixth-grade orchestra at 12 elementary schools. The three middle schools have three orchestras, and the two high schools have two classes with three to four classes designated for fall 2013.
A schedule was designed to meet the classes and schools every day. The elementary, middle school, and high school principals worked countless hours to make this happen; not just for orchestra but for all of the fine arts and academic needs for our students.
Partner with a good music store; success will only happen with good vendors. Davis met with many different vendors and chose the companies that would work best for the growth of the orchestra program while meeting the needs of the students. You must find the vendors that will work for your school district, program, and students.
Set up a partnership where you can get the instruments to build your program. Instruments, instrument storage, music, music storage, string supplies, and more. Dallas Strings comes to the Rockwall ISD schools every two weeks to repair instruments, bring supplies, music, and help the students who rent their instruments. They go out of their way to work with their rentals and provide the instruments needed for Rockwall. Rockwall also has a local music store, Rockwall Music Shop, who has merchandise for all types of instruments including string instrument supplies if we need them for a student who is not renting from Dallas Strings.
Another vendor needed is a good sound system for any electronic needs. A local company has been used by Rockwall ISD for many of their fine arts. The new orchestra department was included and sound systems and electronic devices were purchased for each of the middle schools and high schools for their orchestra rehearsal rooms.
Wenger storage units have been placed in our schools to protect the instruments purchased for the schools. Music storage units, podiums, music stands, and more were needed for each secondary school. Rockwall ISD has used Wenger for many of their class rooms and it was a perfect fit for RISD.
The next step is picking the right music for your groups. The program was successful, not only because of the dedication of the students, but also because of the music selection. The school students enjoy the string classes and orchestras because of the music and the rewards from playing the music successfully.
As our program is now established in the school district, RSO does not meet anymore. However, the students that were in RSO have continued in our school orchestras. The music performed by our groups is challenging, yet the music is attainable. Having a good staff of directors makes that possible. The music that is picked fits the performance and the audience listening to it.
Students are encouraged to audition for All Region Orchestra, All State Orchestra, All City Orchestra, UIL Solo, and Ensemble, UIL contest, festival contests, and Middle School Solo and Ensembles. The directors pick the level of music that fits the student's own achievement level. The student then grows as a musician and will expand that learning to other classes and interests. Discipline has been established.
When the correct music is picked, the students achieve as a group and as individual performers. All of our secondary schools recently earned straight sweepstakes at the UIL contest in our region. This was achieved by the students and their love of the music, their directors’ hard work, and their own hard work. This would not have happened if they did not enjoy learning the selected music.
The last of the half dozen steps is to support each other. The key to our program is that our orchestra directors work together as a team.
We are one—one unit, who support, encourage, and help each other. We are an orchestra staff who will step in and do whatever it takes, across the district, to help each other be successful.
We also believe that music completes a child's learning. If that means it's through a string instrument, we do whatever it takes to help a student succeed. Not necessarily be the next Yo-Yo Ma, but to teach that string music is an extension of the student. It may be music is their goal in life, or it may be a stepping stone toward another goal.
We also teach that string orchestra instruments are a gift and to be thankful to their parents and their school district for making it happen for them.
We are grateful to be asked by our school district to play for various programs. This gives our students a chance to say “thank you” to those who made our orchestra program possible.
It is humbling and a blessing for our program to nourish at a time when orchestra programs are being eliminated. As you all know, research suggests that playing a string instrument builds the mind and makes a student learn at higher levels. We have all heard of the Mozart Effect of learning. Rockwall ISD and its families recognize the value of string education and proactively made it happen. I recently came across a poster saying to: “Think like Mozart, listen like Beethoven and build like Bach.” Let us keep string orchestra and the arts growing, just like Rockwall ISD. Go to a local concert. It can be as wonderful as taking your child to hear the local professional symphony orchestra. Go to hear your local school string orchestra play. Rockwall is still building their orchestra program. Currently, it is only through the 10th grade. Just wait, it will be through the 12th grade before you know it! Our goal is to have a full orchestra some day and maybe some other types of orchestra groups in the mix. You never know what wonderful opportunities are around the corner. Orchestra is where it is at in Rockwall, Texas, Rockwall ISD.
Footnotes
Tracy Davis is in her 28th year as a music educator in the Texas Public School System. In the fall of 2007, she became orchestra coordinator for the Rockwall ISD, where she started the orchestra program and is currently developing the program. Prior to coming to Rockwall, Davis taught music in Forney ISD and Midlothian ISD and was orchestra director for Carollton-Farmers Branch ISD. Davis is active as a private string teacher and performer and Suzuki instructor. For six summers she has been the instructor for the String Improvement Class for the Conservatory Music in the Mountains. Trained as a cellist, she received her bachelor of music degree from North Texas State University in 1985 where she was a student of Adolfo Odnoposoff.