Opening doors for gifted young musicians

American Education, Nov, 1984 by John Benigno

Talented teenage musicians who want to study at an advanced and accelerated level in preparation for professional careers face many obstacles. During their last years of high school these youngsters must make many important decisions. Talent is often not enough, particularly for the pupil interested in a career as an orchestral musician. Proper training and guidance from active, experienced, and well established professionals is vital.

But how can these students find such superior teachers and how can they afford their high fees?

The Advanced Study Project at Philadelphia's Settlement Music School is specifically designed to overcome these barriers. Students study individually with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and receive advanced solfeggio training and chamber music coaching at the School. The latter is especially beneficial, providing perhaps the only opportunity for these teenagers to perform with other musicians on a peer level.

Orchestra members provide the musical guidance that only a seasoned player can give. Also, they have the insider's view of the repertoire, and, as violinst Sidney Curtiss points out, "Traditionally, much of this is passed on orally."

They can also prepare their charges for the incredible competition that even the most talented will face, getting them into a network of players that can eventually put them in the right place at the right time.

The program addresses the financial burden of studying at this level as well. According to Robert Capanna, Settlement's Executive Director, "For virtually every student, lessons with a member of a major symphony orchestra would be a financial strain."

Thanks to funding from the CIGNA Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts Expansion Arts Program, the Advanced Study Project provides lessons at a fraction of their actual cost. Jeffery P. Lindtner, Director of the CIGNA Foundation, says, "We were interested in funding this project because it gave teenagers from diversified backgrounds an opportunity they would not normally have in any case. Our grant, along with the Arts Endowment's, covers 95 percent of the lesson cost for the student."

Students from the first year's pilot program were recruited from Settlement's 3,000 students, the School District of Philadelphia's All-City Orchestra, the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, and by general invitation to area high schools. All were selected by audition.

Currently, there are 19 exceptionally talented students in the program, providing them with access to outstanding instruction; virtually all will go on to professional, college-level training. In fact, from last season's pilot project, graduating seniors continued their studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, the Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music.

Dennis Strawley, a previous winner of the Philadelphia Orchestra Youth Auditions, who is now studying clarinet at Curtis, says, "The excellent criticism I received put me closer to my goal of becoming a member of a major symphony orchestra."

Settlement's innovative Advanced Study Project is a valuable extension of the educational process for these gifted young musicians. It breeds a learning environment where their talent can be nurtured and their creativity challenged, stimulated and guided. It is Settlement Music School's hope that this program can be adopted at other community schools of the arts around the country.