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 The program will empower students to confidently express their individuality while inspiring them to enjoy a lifetime of music. “This is exciting, important and truly groundbreaking,” says Pam Blaine, director of education for the Pacific Symphony in Costa Mesa. “With this program, Heritage Oak becomes the leader of the pack for music programs in the region. The vision of the administrators and the board to implement this is really amazing.” The genesis of the program didn’t occur overnight. Heritage Oak is part of the prestigious Meritas Family of Schools, which has expanded many of its arts programs during the last four years. For instance, three years ago, Heritage Oak began its instrumental music program, in which children play the instrument of their choice, beginning in fourth grade. A jazz band program began last year, and a full-time performing arts director was put on staff. The newly hired violin teacher will be trained through Meritas methods and will have a deep understanding of the curriculum implemented by Meritas Schools throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. “The program came about because of the success that our sister schools throughout the U.S. have had,” says Gregg Cygan, president of Heritage Oak. “There has been a tremendous push for us to start the program, but we had to work out certain logistics, such as finding the time in the curriculum, securing the instruments and hiring the right person to be our instructor.” Those components have now all come together, and the program is ready to launch this fall. But why start so young? “An overwhelming amount of research shows that the younger children are exposed to instrumental training, the stronger their long-term academic performance,” says Cygan. Blaine concurs. “Starting instrumental instruction at a young age provides a very safe forum for growth and musical expression, and many studies support that the most significant musical stimulation occurs at preschool ages,” says Blaine. “Also, learning an instrument improves critical thinking and problem solving, in addition to self-discipline, attention to detail and self-expression.” The program is an extension of Heritage Oak’s commitment to value the arts and cultivate artists. Part of the school’s mission is to serve to develop one’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth by providing a safe forum for creative expression and discovery. “We believe that the creativity and multi-dimensional thinking developed through the disciplined study of instrumental music are vital to the acquisition of these necessary skills,” says Phyllis Cygan, executive director of Heritage Oak. According to program literature, violin study will teach critical thinking as children are guided to apply their own meta-cognitive abilities to explain the various types of strategies used for remembering what musical symbols mean. Violin study directs students through skills mastery and then challenges them to evaluate their own work and apply new understanding. Additionally, concentration on music theory can translate to global understanding as students learn to view the world in a different light through exposure to a variety of diverse musical selections. “At Pacific Symphony, we foster music education, because it is such a powerful impetus to developing a lifelong love and appreciation of music,” says Blaine. At a time when funds for art programs in most schools are shaved to bare bones or eliminated entirely, Heritage Oak is moving confidently forward in order to offer its students this valuable opportunity. heritageoak.org •> DREAM BIG! Enter to win The Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) is one of the most successful public education foundations in California. Since 1996, its efforts have helped to fund fine arts, math, science, music, and counseling programs, as well as after-school and summer-enrichment programs. The foundation also succeeded in keeping class sizes small in Irvine schools, as well as provide extra money for nurses, health clerks and health education. Currently, IPSF is conducting its largest fundraiser – the Dream Stakes Raffle. A $150 donation will enter you for a chance to win: > A $700,000 high-rise home or $500,000 in cash > A year of free rent > A brand-new 3-Series BMW > A dream vacation |
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