That melodious sound emanating from Marietta? It’s the dulcet strains of orchestral music coming back into the schools.
For some time, the Marietta school district has been looking for ways to expand its arts offerings to include a strings program, said Dayton Hibbs, the district’s associate superintendent.
“We have everything else, but strings were the missing link. So we partnered with Kennesaw State to create a string project for grades three through five. Last fall, we launched a district program for sixth grade strings that grew from that feeder program, and now it’s going to grow into seventh grade as well.”
While the strings project for lower grades takes place after hours, middle school students can add lessons to their class schedule. Including music lessons into the curriculum is not only convenient, it complements the district’s dedication to the arts, said Hibbs.
“We are an International Baccalaureate district, and there’s a strong emphasis on the arts,” he said. “Our goal is to have a world-class arts program with a full offering of strings, chorus, band, theater and dance. We had everything but strings, but now that’s changed.”
Creating that new music curriculum fell to Christina Esposito, who spent seven years teaching orchestra in Clarke County before moving to Marietta. And she was surprised to learn the district didn’t have a strings program.
“There had never been an orchestra, so I had to order equipment, set up a room, recruit students and put together a curriculum,” she said. “But it was important for an IB school to have a complete arts offering. We encourage students to get any musical background they can because having an arts education is crucial to understanding the world better. It gives students skills they might not get otherwise get, such as critical thinking and problem solving.”
This past year, 36 students enrolled in the strings classes that met twice a week and also took field trips. Along with members of the chorus, band, drama and art departments, the strings students performed for district fifth graders to give them a taste of what the program has to offer. At a concert in May at the Marietta Performing Arts Center, the middle schoolers invited fifth graders to play along.
Almost all of the sixth graders have signed on to continue with strings next year, said Esposito, which means she’ll be shuttling between the Sixth Grade Academy on Aviation Road to the middle school close to the town square
“There’s always a concern with a new program that it won’t last, but I’m a firm believer that students will pick what they really want to do and stick with it,” said Esposito. “I’ve also realized over years of teaching that a lot of students don’t want to do band or chorus, but they’re drawn to string instruments, and orchestra gives them the chance to explore that. The success comes down to what really appeals to them.”
Esposito added that orchestra also provides a collaborative environment that shy students often find hard to navigate in other classes.
“But I’ve noticed with my quieter kids, it gives them an outlet to do that,” she said. “Being in orchestra or one of these arts programs gives them an edge. They’re getting the chance to express themselves – and a chance to be off the phone and computer, and interacting with peers in a positive manner.”
Information aboout the Marietta City Schools and programs: marietta-city.org.
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