Homer Youth String Orchestra Club

Paul Banks Preludes is in it's second year, and we are going strong!  Approximately 120 students receive 90 minutes a week of violin instruction.  Every student is invited and included in the program--all abilities, all incomes--everyone!  Last year we played 3 community concerts, and this year we hope to play even more!

Paul Banks Elementary is a PK-2 school in Homer serving about 200 students a year.  The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra is a non-profit group of musicians that believes in spreading the love and benefit of music through our area.  Through a collaboration of both of these groups, the concept of The Preludes emerged.  Based on a model for positive social change that originated in Venezua called El Sistema ,  violin instruction is used to develop students' focus, self-control, teamwork, and the understanding that it takes effort to accomplish great things.  In addition, integrated music instruction enhances overall academic progress.

We have received tremendous local community support, both in hours volunteered and money donated. It is because of the multitudes of small individual contributions that we are able to continue to offer the program.  Last year we were able to purchase enough violins for a grade level to play together in concert.  The main program costs going forward are the pay for the violin instructors and ongoing professional development to keep the program strong, relevant, and vibrant.   


Benefits:

·         Develop focus, discipline, and self-control

·         Learn how to work as a team

·         Build confidence and self-esteem

·         Strengthen skills for school success; including perseverance, delayed gratification, and long-term memory

·         Foster healthy relationships between peers and with adult role models

·         Develop fine and gross motor skills

·         Foster creative expression

·         Give all students access to joyful music-making through ensemble

Regular musical training has also been shown to enhance positive brain activity in children during other educational activities such as math and reading.  In fact, in Juneau, where a similarly modeled program has already been successfully implemented, the test scores have gone up so dramatically that the program has been replicated and expanded to several of their elementary schools.

Thank you for considering donating to this tuition free music program and helping our local youth.  Students will experience success through community performance and daily practice, and understand that effort and persistence help them overcome life’s challenges.