1st-Graders Learning Violin To Test Music's Benefits

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Some Bloomington elementary students are learning how to count and read not out of a book, but with the use of music.

First-graders at Fairview Elementary are taking violin lessons as part of a joint venture with Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

The students get to pluck and play with 65 violins all paid for by a $15,000 grant to IU made by an anonymous donor. Classroom teachers say the program, called the Fairview Project, is a hit.

"They actually give up their recess time, which is really difficult for a 6- or 7-year-old," said teacher Kali Crites. "But they don't mind it at all. They're very eager to learn."

The program has a research component as well. Educators will study students' cognitive test scores taken at the beginning and at the end of the year. They will also compare the test scores to those at another Bloomington elementary that doesn't offer the lessons.

"It's taking us in different directions and it's answering some different questions that we've wondered," said Gwyn Richards, dean of the school of music. "To see instruments in students' hands, our faculty and our graduate students working with those students -- it is a great, grand experiment."

Teachers say they're already seeing a difference in their students.

"It's improved their organization skills, it has improved their thought process. They're able to concentrate more," Crites said.

But for the students, playing the instruments is just plain fun.

"It's my favorite class and I like it because, uh, it has a lot of feelings that is happy and stuff," said first-grader Chloe Shook.

"It makes class fun because you get to do an activity you don't usually do," said classmate Tim Brewster.

It's also been a moving experience for some of the instructors, many of whom are graduate students at IU.

"The first graders would come in and say, 'Are you going to teach me violin?' And when my grad student said, 'yeah,' then, this little girl came running up and gave her a huge hug and said, "Thank you! I'm so excited," said IU associate professor of music education, Brenda Benner. "I just looked at this grad student and she had tears coming out of her eyes. She was unprepared for the dent we can make in these children's lives in a positive way."

Officials with the music school hope to continue offering violin classes for interested students, even after they've completed the first grade.