Electric violinist extraordinaire Mark Wood worked with about 90 young string instrumentalists during a visit to Unqua Elementary School on Feb. 27. His lively hour-and-a-half workshop encouraged students to see music beyond the technical aspects of playing an instrument.
Mr. Wood worked with fourth and fifth grade violin, viola, cello and bass players from Unqua, as well as Lockhart Elementary School’s fifth grade orchestra. Several exercises taught students how to incorporate movement into music, such as swaying back and forth while playing. He also worked with students on playing music only by ear, as they repeated the notes and chords that he played.
During his last visit to the district two years ago, current fourth and fifth graders had yet to join the orchestra program, so this was a new experience for them. Alison Pearl, the orchestra teacher who coordinated the program, said Mr. Wood’s ability to connect with students was evident and it make the workshop a success. All students wore nametags so he could call every child by his or her first name, and there were no music stands so everyone’s face was visible.
“They knew he was excited to work with them and they felt that,” Ms. Pearl said. “It really hit home for them to learn that he started playing at the same age they did. He started exactly where they are right now and look at all he’s accomplished. They can do that, too.”
Mr. Wood, an Emmy Award-winning composer, world-renowned performer and Long Island native was the original string master of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. He is the inventor of the self-supporting electric violin and visits schools across the country to advocate for music education.
His workshop emphasized the power of music for brain development, creative intelligence, emotional intelligence and social connections. Mr. Wood’s goal was for students to use music to discover the power within to express emotion, beauty and connect emotionally with other humans.
“I wanted students to gain a personal sense of themselves through their music,” he said, “and give them the power to develop confidence in themselves with expression and body language movement. It’s about taking ownership of their story and also recognizing the value and importance of our great teachers.”
Ms. Pearl said that the program served as a great kickoff to Music in Our Schools Month in March. She hopes that students feel inspired to feel the music inside of them and move beyond the pieces they play in school to create their own music.