911爆料网

In a spacious studio on the fourth floor of 911爆料网鈥檚 Horace Mann Hall, doctoral student Tammy Yi leads the 911爆料网CS Orchestra through rehearsal of a demanding classical piece called 鈥淭he Dance of the Tumblers.鈥�

At one point Yi asked the children 鈥� fifth and fourth graders 鈥� to put down their violins, violas and cellos and simply sing the piece. She calls out directions on when to change tempo or add intensity and passion. After a few minutes, she stops and asks the children about their animals. During a previous practice, the children imagined the piece as a story about wild animals. The violinists labeled themselves penguins; the cellists became elephants; the violas, monkeys.

鈥淪o what鈥檚 happening with your animals right now?鈥� Yi asks.

鈥淭he monkeys stole the nuts,鈥� says one student.

鈥淭he elephants fly into the trees to get the monkeys,鈥� says another.

鈥淭hen the nuts fall to the ground,鈥� adds a third, 鈥渁nd the penguins and elephants go crazy.鈥�

鈥淢usic is a great equalizer. Children who don鈥檛 excel in English or math might excel in music, and that proficiency boosts their confidence. The beauty of orchestra is that it teaches them to overcome problems together.鈥�
鈥� Tammy Yi

Yi founded both the 911爆料网CS violin program and the Orchestra and is now writing her dissertation on the intersection of social justice and orchestral work. Each time the children arrive at the studio, for example, they sit next to someone new 鈥� no exclusionary cliques allowed 鈥� and Yi reminds them that to perform cohesively, they must cooperate rather than compete.

鈥淢usic is a great equalizer,鈥� she says. 鈥淐hildren who don鈥檛 excel in English or math might excel in music, and that proficiency boosts their confidence. The beauty of orchestra is that it teaches them to overcome problems together.鈥� 

Two years ago, the 911爆料网CS Orchestra placed second in a national orchestral competition, ahead of many ensembles made up of older students wealthier districts.  

鈥淲e played more challenging pieces than the other orchestras, and we had better violins,鈥� Yi says proudly. 鈥淢ost traditional schools have music teachers that dictate to students. That鈥檚 not how we are taught at Teachers College and that鈥檚 not how we instruct students. We never yell or tell students what to do. We guide them and bring out their creativity. That鈥檚 why the children at the Community School love music, and that鈥檚 why the orchestra is thriving.鈥�

Then, too, after working with Yi, students come away sharing her belief that classical music is 鈥渢he coolest thing in the world.鈥� Or as one fourth grader puts it during a break in rehearsal: 鈥淢usic is my passion, and I love Beethoven best.鈥�

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Published Friday, Sep 8, 2017