Ethan Saxon, 13, and Nicholas Van Slooten, 16, briefly shared the spotlight Thursday playing "Pirates of the Caribbean" on their violins together in front of about 150 spectators at Bright Field Middle School.
Their performance was part of a recital, the culminating event of the School District's new orchestra mentorship program that provides sixth-graders one-on-one tutelage from more experienced orchestra students at Bentonville High.
At A Glance
Bentonville Orchestra Mission Statement
The Bentonville Orchestra Program seeks to develop individual musical artistry, ensemble excellence and promote a lifelong enjoyment of music in each young person. This important goal cannot be attained without a sincere desire, effort and commitment from each orchestra member. As a teacher, I believe my primary responsibility is to develop young musicians by assisting them in reaching the highest level of musicianship through proper technique and to cultivate their natural ability to perform and succeed in music as well as in life.
Source: Bentonville Public Schools Orchestra Handbook
"I learned some new songs. I learned how to hold my hand on the violin," Ethan said about the time he spent with Van Slooten. "I had a lot of fun. It's fun getting to know a song from TV or a movie."
Van Slooten, a 10th-grader who's been playing the violin for 10 years, mentored four students. He's determined to participate in the program again next year, and not just because of what it does for the younger students.
"Through mentoring I learn a lot more from having been a teacher," Van Slooten said. "It helps me learn what I need to practice."
Forty-one sixth-graders and 27 high school mentors participated in the program, said Diane Halliburton, orchestra teacher at Bright Field and Ruth Hale Barker middle schools. They began meeting in early February once a week after school for 30 minutes to work on their songs.
The mentors are strictly volunteers and the program does not cost the School District anything, Halliburton said.
Bentonville students can begin to take orchestra classes in the sixth grade. Students learn to play one of four instruments: violin, viola, cello and bass.
District orchestra teachers began considering the mentorship program idea last fall as a way not only to help younger students but also to challenge the high school students, Halliburton said. All sixth-graders were invited to participate.
Halliburton called the mentorship program one of the best things she's ever been involved in. All of her students who participated have improved significantly, she said. With that improvement she also has seen her sixth-graders' attitudes change.
"They can say, 'I know how to solve this problem because I went to my lesson and my mentor helped me figure out how to make this work.' And their desire to practice and get better has gone way up," she said.
Jenny Castillo, orchestra teacher for Old High and Ardis Ann middle schools, said the best school orchestra programs start earlier than Bentonville's does. The mentorship program is a way to help students get to the level they need to be without having to pay for private lessons.
"We want the kids to get that one-on-one teaching," Castillo said. "These high school students have totally stepped up. They've done an incredible job."
The sixth-graders were accompanied by one of their parents at each mentorship session. One reason for that is if the sixth-graders forget something their mentor told them, their parents -- who are supposed to be paying attention to the lesson as well -- can remind them.
"There can be no question that the mentor said this is how it's done. We wanted to make sure all that time the mentor spends is not wasted," Halliburton said. "Also, I think it's wonderful to have a parent there being encouraging."
There are between 550 and 600 students involved in the district's orchestra program in grades six through 12, Halliburton said. That number is rising. Orchestra class enrollment surged from 72 last year to 95 this year at Bright Field alone, she said.
The teachers definitely plan on doing the mentorship program again next school year, Halliburton said.
"We would like to extend it if we can, make it even better and include more students," she said.
Lydia Paxton, a ninth-grader, served as a mentor to four students, meaning she spent about two hours per week giving lessons. She took the stage at Thursday's recital with each of her mentees individually to play tunes such as "Allegro" and "Ode to Joy."
She intends to continue mentoring through high school. She said she doesn't think enough students are involved in orchestra.
"Especially once you get into high school, it becomes the unpopular thing," said Lydia, 15. "I think staying in music has helped me. It's a skill you can use your whole life and it's so meaningful."
Lydia said she was amazed by how quickly her mentees applied what she taught them.
Renee Saxon, Ethan's mother, said the mentorship program helped her son develop his skills.
"I'm sad it's over," she said. "I feel like he got a lot out of it."
NW News on 04/21/2014