Growing a Successful Afterschool Violin Program
This fall, SCS Teaching Artist Sam Bardfeld enters his fourth year running an afterschool violin program at PS 24 in Sunset Park, a Brooklyn neighborhood. The program began when S’Cool Sounds (SCS) purchased violins (provided with support from our generous donors) for the school’s permanent use, hopeful that a violin program would grow roots. Sam approached extracurricular music instruction by focusing on technique fundamentals (like hand position, posture, and sound production) while making sure the students had fun.
What followed was wonderful, organic growth. Initially, the program was designed for third grade students. Yet the program naturally expanded as the original group of students (then rising fourth graders) wanted to keep learning and continue their participation along with the incoming third graders. Now, the program includes students in grades 3 through 5; the older students have grown with the program, excited to build on their violin skills with each school year before graduating to middle school.
The selected music intentionally celebrates the richness of Central American, Latin American, and Caribbean folk music. These choices honor the school’s diverse population, which primarily reflects immigrants from these communities, and helps students connect with their own musical traditions as well as those of their peers. Sam explains, “Playing songs from these areas (most of which are familiar to the families who attend the concerts) helps engender a sense of pride, belonging, and affirmation.”
For additional fun, older students get to choose a few popular contemporary songs to learn. According to Sam, letting students contribute to planning the music gives them a sense of agency and creative investment. Last year, the fifth graders chose Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit.” (“And yes, they all put on flannel shirts when we played that song!”)
Program participants present what they have learned through two in-school performances a year. As a rewarding achievement, for the last two years, the students have been invited to the annual District 15 Arts Showcase in Brooklyn, an event that celebrates student creativity through student performances and displays of student artwork.
Please consider donating today to help us continue providing instruments and multicultural music programs across New York City!
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Watch a mini documentary featuring SCS Teaching Artists Sam Bardfeld and Mir Naqibul Islam that highlights the 2024-25 SCS residency at PS 161Q, which uplifted South Asian heritage through musical learning for multilingual learners and students with disabilities. This partnership was made possible by an Arts for Diverse Learners grant from NYC Public Schools.