Fiddle Sticks: The gift of music for life

This was the first year for San Marcos CISD’s pilot program Fiddle Sticks, an after school program for fifth grade students that offers large and small group instruction of fundamental skills in music performance and literacy for the violin, viola, cello and bass. But introducing music to young kids in SMCISD is something that could grow into a lifelong love of music for many of the students.

According to San Marcos High School Orchestra Director and Fiddle Sticks Program Director Christopher Hanson, Fiddle Sticks was created for students who have a sincere interest in learning more about music; and string instruments offer an excellent introduction to music education because they can be sized to fit any student at any age.

“The students will develop advanced music literacy skills that will prepare them for performing arts ensembles in middle school and high school,” Hanson said. “In the broadest sense, the program has also offered them a structured art education activity to engage with after school, which strengthens their development holistically as we engage in cross curricular instruction through the arts. Lastly, it develops a strong sense of responsibility and discipline as they explore the process of learning a musical instrument, which is a huge undertaking, but one they have met with diligence and excitement. “

Students meet twice a week, once with the other students from their campus in a small-group setting which consists of no more than 10 students, and once with all of the other elementary schools in their cluster for a large-group setting, which consists of no more than 30 students.

Enrollment and instruction in Fiddle Sticks is offered to students free of charge. However, students are expected to rent their instruments for the full term of the program – August through May.

Around 40 students, representing all six of SMCISD’s elementary schools, joined the program in the first year, including Mendez Elementary fifth grader Jon Stark Jr.

Jon Stark, father of Stark Jr., said they attended orientation for the new program and filled out paperwork for students who couldn’t afford the rental prices of instruments or afford to buy their own, but somehow Stark Jr. fell through the cracks and his instrument hadn’t arrived within the first six weeks of lessons.

“We were really excited,” Stark said. “The first week, we were told the instruments were on the way; the second week, third week same thing, then fourth week same thing. Somehow the vendor dropped the ball. I called and called around and even the teachers were exasperated, they didn’t know what to do. Jon would come home practically in tears because everyone had their instruments but him.

“I called everyone I could think to call and finally got to the point where he was just going to have to learn to play violin without a violin somehow,” Stark said.

Stark mentioned the situation to Daniel Terry, owner of Dan Terry Art Studio in Austin and his boss. Stark works as an assistant for Terry’s business installing art pieces and murals.

Terry, a trained luthier, happened across a perfect specimen of a violin for Stark Jr. on Goodwill’s online auction site.

“I’m not sure about the brand, but there are certain things that make a good violin,” Terry said. “A good violin is going to be made out of solid woods instead of plywoods; the backs and sides of a quality violin are made of maple and the top is always going to made out of some type of spruce.”

Stark's father surprised him with a violin that his boss Daniel Terry purchased at school, after taking lessons for six weeks without one. Photo courtesy of Jon Stark

He purchased the violin, which is worth about $400 to $500 by itself.

“It came up on auction and people weren’t bidding on it and the bidding was ending, so I threw in a bid of $100, knowing that Jonny could use a good instrument,” Terry said. “I didn’t want him to be held back, so I just bought it. And it included a real bow which is a real wooden bow, not a cheap fiberglass one – it’s probably a $200 or $300 bow – and a solid case that is worth probably $100.

“I just wanted to get him an instrument that wouldn’t hold him back in playing and that would grow with him.”

For Terry, buying the violin was a sort of paying it forward. He had grown up poor and the idea of denying a kid the right to reach his potential just because money seemed abhorrent.

“When I was little I didn’t have that kind of opportunity and I wanted it, “Terry said. “When I finally did get a guitar when I was 16, it was piece of junk instrument. It was very discouraging, and I just wanted to make sure Jonny had an opportunity to find out whether it’s something he wants to do.”

And it is. Stark Jr. has had an interest in music pretty much ever since he heard it, according to his father. He got is first instrument, a guitar, when he was fiveyears-old for Christmas. It was smaller than a regular guitar and made from plastic, but still held a tune. And when he got the opportunity to join Fiddle Sticks he wanted to.

“I wanted to join Fiddle Sticks because it gave me a chance to have fun and play with an actual instrument, because the only other instrument I’ve gotten to play with in my life is a guitar,” Stark Jr. said. “So now I get to play the violin.”

The Stark household is a musical one in general; Stark is a percussionist, having played African and samba beats with several dance companies in his time and now they have a father and son band called “The Midnight Riders,” where they play Arlo Guthrie and Allman Brothers covers together.

“I encourage him to do whatever it is he wants, but I think learning the violin and using that as a springboard to learn the fundamentals of music is great, because whatever direction Jon goes, I know he’ll always have music in his life,” Stark said.

It’s a sentiment Fiddle Sticks Program Director Hanson holds too.

“It is incredibly rewarding to watch the students progress in the Fiddle Sticks program.” Hanson said. “Knowing that these young musicians have the opportunity to explore the world through the arts and continue into a music program for the next 8 years, as they enter middle school and high school, is momentous. There are few things in this world that we can maintain, outside of our professions, for over 8 years and still enjoy. Music is one of those unique activities that consistently challenges us yet reaps endless rewards. It is truly fulfilling as a teacher to see these young students and their families make such an awesome investment in their future through the arts.”

Stark Jr. runs his bow across the strings of the violin during his first performance.

Stark Jr. now knows about how sound is emitted from the violin through the sound post inside it; he knows where to place his fingers on the fingerboard and he looks forward to going to Miller Middle School next year and becoming a part of their orchestra.

Terry, who played with the Southwest Texas State University Symphony when he attended the school, said being a part of an orchestra is an experience unlike playing an instrument on your own.

“There’s just something about being a member of an ensemble, where everybody else is depending upon you,” Terry said. “It gives you a sense of teamwork and collaboration incites appreciation of the music itself and a sense of accomplishment that you can become a part of this great and wonderful sound being created by everyone. It’s cool experience for a kid.”