THE WICHITA EAGLE

Strings academy seeking students

BY CHRISTINA M. WOODS

The Wichita Eagle

The Northeast Area Strings Academy of Wichita, which targets African-American students, is enrolling for its summer 2008 session.

The academy, now in its 15th year, offers private lessons to students who are already playing violin, viola, cello or string bass in their school's orchestra.

Private lessons are offered in 30-minute intervals. The lessons run from May 29 to July 31.

All academy students receive a T-shirt and will perform in a recital Aug. 2 at North Heights Christian Church, 3030 N. Hillside.

"Private lessons are the best way to make improvements in music," said Kay Buskirk, executive director of the academy.

Buskirk noted that students who need to rent their instruments from the school district should make those arrangements before the school year ends.

The academy also will offer a new introductory violin course from May 27 to July 29 for students who have completed fourth or fifth grade but do not have any orchestra experience.

A recent donation of eight violins to the academy made the new course possible, Buskirk said.

The academy drew about 35 students last year.

Those students were able to work and perform with the Young Eight, a professional group of African-American classical musicians from top music schools nationwide who combine classical and hip-hop styles.

Buskirk encourages parents who want their children in orchestra to get them involved by the fifth grade, because there are no beginning strings classes in middle school.

"If you miss that one, you've kind of missed the boat," she said of starting orchestra by the fifth grade.

Reach Christina M. Woods at 316-269-6791 or cwoods@wichitaeagle.com.