Fledgling orchestra program sets stage for Springdale district

SPRINGDALE -- The orchestra program at the Tyson School of Innovation is serving as a model for the district.

"Once we see what works and what doesn't work, we plan to have conversations about starting orchestra at our four middle schools, then grow them into the junior and senior high schools," said Damon Donnell, student support services coordinator for Springdale Public School District.

Orchestra programs have been established in the Bentonville, Fayetteville and Rogers school districts, administrators said.

Tyson started its first band program two years ago, said Jeff Kee, Tyson's director of bands. The four large school districts in Northwest Arkansas all have long-established band programs, he said.

Orchestra programs in public schools consist only of string instruments, Kee said. Bands are made up of woodwinds, brass and percussion instruments, he said.

"Band is incredible, but it doesn't necessarily capture the breadth and the wonderful history of classical music that strings bring to the table," said Riley Nicholson, Symphony of Northwest Arkansas executive director. "It really widens the musical education opportunities."

Developing the program from the beginning for Springdale is exciting, Kee said.

"I think there's a lot of pressure," he said. "We want to do it right."

The program is offering a beginner orchestra class for sixth-graders. More advanced classes will be added annually as students progress, he said.

[Don't see the video above, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLKr52ZRcY8]

The school is the right fit to begin orchestra for the district because it serves students from sixth through 12th grade and can naturally grow the program, Kee said.

"We'll build it from the bottom up," he said. "If we grow that each year, we'll have the high school level in a few years."

Ella Swanson, 11, of Fort Smith said she started playing the violin for the first time this year as part of the orchestra program. She said she commutes to Springdale daily to attend the School of Innovation for the opportunities it offers.

"Learning a new instrument is very interesting," she said. "Being able to actually play one is really cool, too."

Ella said she's excited to be one of the first participants in the program.

"I feel like it's really cool that we're making history," she said.

Eleven students are enrolled in the program, said Justin Hazard, orchestra director and assistant band director.

"This is typical starting out a program," he said.

It's important not to grow the program too quickly to ensure the school can provide adequate resources for students, Hazard said.

One student participates in the class virtually because of the covid-19 pandemic. Virtual and in-person students attend the class at the same time, he said.

Starting the program during the pandemic has its challenges, Hazard said.

Students can't share instruments, must remain 6 feet apart and hands-on instruction isn't feasible, he said. The restrictions make it particularly hard to teach beginning students, he said.

"It involves very fine muscle movements," Hazard said of students placing fingers on the strings. "When you actually physically touch them and kind of help them move that finger where it needs to be, they can kind of feel where that is."

The distance between students also makes it difficult for them to learn how to play correctly, he said.

"When you're a young player, you rely a lot on modeling and hearing other people around you," Hazard said. "It's difficult for them because they feel like they're on their own little island and they're not quite sure what they're doing."

Ella said she's getting the hang of the violin, despite the pandemic.

"It's challenging as you go, but I feel like I'm getting a grasp on it," she said.

The students had a performance recorded on video in the gym in December, Hazard said. The performance was shared on the school YouTube page, but he said he's hoping to have an orchestra performance in the school's Performing Arts Center in May. The approximately 33,000-square-foot center will be able to seat 1,200 people and is part of a $35 million development project that began two years ago, said Stephen Lightfoot, district performing arts center director. The center is anticipated to be complete in April, he said.

"When you put so much time into rehearsal and nothing comes of it, it just seems kind of pointless to them," Hazard said. "That's where you really lose morale. We're going to push for a concert if we can."

Ella said she'd like people to be able to experience the orchestra in person.

"It's the first orchestra in Springdale, and it would be really nice if people could share that with us," she said.