Young Strings
Dallas Symphony Orchestra

Violinists Jonathan Raveneau and Charles Jones perform Bach.

A decade ago, Dwight Shambley, a Dallas Symphony Orchestra (DSO) musician, decided he wanted to give back to his community. He was not alone. Another Dallas Symphony Orchestra player, Marion Davies, cultural leader Dolores Gomez Barzune, and Dallas attorney Kevin Wiggins joined Mr. Shambley to create Young Strings, a program dedicated to providing music lessons to young, gifted, primarily minority children from the Dallas area.

The program went so well that, in 1994, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra agreed to adopt and enhance Young Strings. With financing from 7-Eleven, Inc., local foundations, and others, DSO designed a three-level course of instruction. Working closely with public school teachers, staff identified promising kindergarteners for tier one, formally called the Prelude Division. These children sing songs to develop pitch, do movement activities to strengthen their physical coordination and sense of rhythm, play games that teach musical notation and learn about musical instruments.

At the tier two level, the Overture Division, students take twice weekly, semi-private instrument lessons. Instructors trained in the Suzuki method teach them. Students from all over Dallas audition for the third tier, the Finale Division. These participants receive weekly private lessons, often with a musician from the symphony. The instructor, in addition to teaching the instrument, offers coaching, counseling, and mentoring, when needed. Finale Division parents and participants sign an annual agreement laying out the requirements for continued participation: measurable improvements, regular attendance, a minimum grade-point average, and participation in Young Strings performances and activities. Young Strings, in sum, discovers, develops, and promotes the musical talents of Dallas youth.

In addition to these age and skill-appropriate classes, Young Strings students also get free concert tickets, attend master classes, and meet guest artists. A community based advisory board provides access to social and educational services for students needing further support, such as tutoring or counseling. And, a Young Strings Instrument Loan Bank assures all students access to quality instruments.

As Dolores Gomez Barzune, chair of the Dallas Cultural Affairs Commission notes, "Yes, Young Strings offers talented African-American and Hispanic students an opportunity to gain professional level music instruction, but it also gives them a reason to stay in school, stay out of gangs, and set their goals for themselves a little higher than they might otherwise have done."