Music string project grant to benefit local youth

(Jan. 23, 2002)--The UTSA Department of Music is participating in the American String Teachers Association String Project Consortium. The 10-year, $10,000 per year grant will start a string teacher training program based on current models at the University of South Carolina and UT Austin.

"This grant presents an exciting opportunity for UTSA string students to learn the art of teaching in a controlled and stimulating environment," said Gene Dowdy, assistant chair of the Department of Music. "Furthermore, it brings national recognition to UTSA's growing orchestral program and highlights our commitment to music education."

The UTSA String Project started this month with the invitation to 60 area elementary school children to participate in after-school instruction on string instruments including the violin, viola, cello and bass. Students attending elementary schools and private schools, as well as home schools with no string instruction are being specifically targeted. Representatives from UTSA visited schools from Jan. 7-21 to recruit 3rd, 4th and 5th graders for the program.

The first year of the project will focus on beginning string instruction, with subsequent years including advanced instruction, music theory and ensemble classes in which students will be encouraged to continue advanced orchestral training with the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio. Each project site will have 150 students and nine undergraduate teachers by the completion of the third year.

The National String Project Consortium is designated to help universities build the practical training component of their music education programs. The purpose of the project is to help alleviate a national string teacher shortage by encouraging string players to become string teachers.

The project also provides financial incentives by offering assistantships to undergraduate string education majors, as well as supervised teaching experience for college students. Children studying string instruments will be able to help stimulate the growth of new public school orchestra programs around the country.

For more information contact project director Gene Dowdy at (210) 458-4354.

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Music string project grant to benefit local youth

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