Striking a Chord
Future educators mentor youth orchestra members
STORY BY CASS WAINWRIGHT | PHOTOS BY SIMON ZWART
Elena De Nooy, an oboist with visual impairments, participates in the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids.
During a recent rehearsal for an upcoming concert, GVSU music students played alongside Elena and other youth orchestra members, observing from behind different sections and providing live feedback.
“At the beginning of a song, my student mentor, Lea, counts and might tap my leg to let me know, ‘All right, we're coming in a couple of beats,’” Elena said.
Elena De Nooy, in black, said the cues and guidance she receives from her GVSU mentor have helped when she participates in the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids.
Elena De Nooy, in black, said the cues and guidance she receives from her GVSU mentor have helped when she participates in the Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at St. Cecilia Music Center in Grand Rapids.
Grand Valley music education students began mentoring members of the St. Cecilia Music Center (SCMC) youth orchestra last year. Joel Schut, associate professor of music and director of the GVSU Symphony Orchestra, worked with SCMC leaders to develop the program, which was funded through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Voyage Experiential Learning Pilot Program.
Elena said the mentorship program has helped her develop new ways to participate in the orchestra and receive cues from the conductor. When practicing at home, she uses recordings by her aunt and uncle (both professional musicians) that display how her oboe part fits with the orchestra. The more Elena studies, the less dependent she is on her mentor.
“These students are great musicians and have great imaginations."
– MARIA BENÍTEZ-SABINO, GVSU SENIOR
'Our job is to expand their imaginations'
Maria Benítez-Sabino, a senior student mentor, said: “These students are great musicians and have great imaginations. And our job, their teacher's job, is to expand that imagination to how they play it on their instruments.
“Students are super receptive to feedback, especially when you paint a story or give an analogy. Our job is to push them, asking them to expand their view on music, on the world, on their instruments.”
Youth orchestra members rehearse weekly, and the GVSU mentors join the rehearsals monthly, answering questions and providing support. The program serves as a learning experience for both the mentors and students.
“The student mentors have grown in experience, skills and confidence,” Schut said. “Most importantly, this experience has provided professional-level skills early in the degree program before teacher apprenticeship and student teaching experiences.
"This helps confirm students' passion for education and provides additional insights into supporting student success, live-time problem solving, creating culture and building community.”
“The student mentors have grown in experience, skills and confidence."
– JOEL SCHUT, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MUSIC AND DIRECTOR OF THE GVSU SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
'Incredibly valuable experience'
Dan Scott, conductor of the youth orchestra, reflected on the program's impact. “There is no doubt that this has enhanced the St. Cecilia Music Center Philharmonic experience for our students," Scott said. "It has inspired the students and sped up the acquisition of new skills.”
Noah Abdelkader shared how the program has affected him and his chosen major.
“Participating as a mentor for the SCMC has been an incredibly valuable experience in my music education journey in many ways," he said. "Having the opportunity to observe Dan teach has given me ideas and strategies that I have been able to implement into my own teaching style. The mentor program has also provided me with many teaching opportunities from which I have learned a great deal.”
Schut said this partnership between GVSU and St. Cecilia Music Center exemplifies the CLAS Voyage by providing both professional experience and real-world learning. Schut said it may become a permanent program, creating an opportunity for experiential learning for music education students for years to come.
Cyndi Betts, education director for SCMC, agreed. "St. Cecilia is excited about how this program has gone this year and hopes to receive funding to keep supporting future music educators," she said.
'Incredibly valuable experience'
Dan Scott, conductor of the youth orchestra, reflected on the program's impact. “There is no doubt that this has enhanced the St. Cecilia Music Center Philharmonic experience for our students," Scott said. "It has inspired the students and sped up the acquisition of new skills.”
Youth orchestra members participate in a rehearsal at St. Cecilia Music Center.
Youth orchestra members participate in a rehearsal at St. Cecilia Music Center.
Noah Abdelkader shared how the program has affected him and his chosen major.
“Participating as a mentor for the SCMC has been an incredibly valuable experience in my music education journey in many ways," he said. "Having the opportunity to observe Dan teach has given me ideas and strategies that I have been able to implement into my own teaching style. The mentor program has also provided me with many teaching opportunities from which I have learned a great deal.”
Schut said this partnership between GVSU and St. Cecilia Music Center exemplifies the CLAS Voyage by providing both professional experience and real-world learning. Schut said it may become a permanent program, creating an opportunistic source of experiential learning for music education students for years to come.
Cyndi Betts, education director for SCMC, agreed. "St. Cecilia is excited about how this program has gone this year and hopes to receive funding to keep supporting future music educators," she said.
— Cass Wainwright is a senior writing major and a student writer for University Communications.
