October 5, 2005
Fitting beginning for young school musicians
Elementary band and orchestra teachers help sixth grade students select their musical instruments
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Sixth grade students around the Traverse City Area Public Schools District took a big step last week toward musical proficiency: they were fitted for their instruments.
The elementary band and orchestra teachers visited each school and helped students choose an instrument that is right for them. Orchestra teachers had three offerings - cello, viola and violin - while band teachers had an array of instruments ranging from flute, saxophone and oboe to clarinet, baritone and percussion.
During the previous week, TCAPS music staff had demonstrated these instruments, described how they work and let students take a closer look. Students at the 16 elementary schools plus sixth graders at East Junior High this year listened, evaluated and began the process of choosing their musical direction.
The band-instrument teaching team of David and Glenys Cowperthwaite spent an hour last Wednesday with students at Cherry Knoll Elementary School fitting and finalizing instrument selections. Their last stop of the day during a busy week, Glenys Cowperthwaite noted that students mostly choose an instrument based on sound. The teachers work to move the students beyond choosing what their best friend picked or something their family already has. They emphasize that the instrument is something students need to enjoy learning and playing.
"We try to tell them that they're the one that's going to have to play it and practice," said Cowperthwaite.
Sometimes the choice stemmed from a lack of competence on an instrument they wanted to play. Quentin Marion, a sixth grade student at Cherry Knoll, was fitted for the cello Wednesday afternoon, which was not even his second choice.
"I was going to play the percussion and the saxophone, but I wasn't very good at them," he said, adding of the cello: "I like the sound of it."
Popularity of an instrument or familiarity with its sound can also be a factor. Although initially intrigued by the French horn, Adrien Fruendl ultimately chose the trumpet to study.
"I picked the trumpet because whenever I listen to a song, I usually hear a trumpet," said Fruendl, who plays the recorder. "So it's more like a mostly used instrument."
Because the three orchestral instruments come in various sizes, any interested student can play one of them. With band instruments, especially the woodwinds and brass, the student's physical structure sometimes can be a factor.
"Everybody is different, different lips, different arms and different teeth," said Gene Englerth, an instrument fitter with Marshall Music based out of Lansing helping in the district this week. "The best way to see who can play which one is to bring all the different instruments in and have them try them."
A veteran teacher, Glenys Cowperthwaite noted that at this time of the year, new band and orchestra students are very enthusiastic. While some will drop out over the years, she knows that many will play through high school, some of those into college and maybe a few on to professional careers. However, even students who play only for a few years can reap rewards that go beyond personal accomplishment or the social benefits of making music with a group.
"The Mozart effect rewires or enhances the brain function because there's so many things that you're dealing with at the same time: creating the notes on the instrument, reading the notes off the page and also the emotional aspects that come into it," she said. "It's kind of a multi-faceted input to the brain, there's a lot going on at the same time. It's pretty much proven that it can up the IQ points."
Back to the beginning students at Cherry Knoll, David Cowperthwaite surveyed the scramble of sixth graders leaving the library after the fitting session, reflecting on their future lessons and concerts together.
"This is where it all starts," he said.