Music and music education are sometimes thought of as secondary when compared to the reading, writing and mathematics basics. But The Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra (SYSO) is having an impact not just on music appreciation but on the test scores and lives of those they can include.

In 2008, the New York based Wallace Foundation granted $7.7 million dollars to local arts groups with $500,000 going to the SYSO. They expanded their partnership with the Seattle Public Schools through The Southwest Seattle Strings Project.

A video by Lindsay Thomas has been produced (also funded by the Wallace Foundation) on the program that includes interviews with students, a parent and the Director of Orchestras for Denny International Middle School Heather Shaffer who said, "In two years of coaching we've gone from 16 students to about 45 in the sixth grade orchestra. 16 to 45 is a pretty telling indicator of how successful it is and what a need there is for it."

The program provides selected school instrumental music departments with weekly free group instrumental lessons for students in the early stages of learning on the following instruments:

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• String bass

The program supports school instrumental music teachers by providing highly trained teaching specialists that work directly under the supervision of classroom teachers to increase the size, diversity and quality of school orchestra programs.

SYSO Music Director Stephen R. Radcliffe, said, "In the Seattle Public Schools, for the elementary schools there is only funding for a music teacher one day a week and usually it's half a day a week. Schools can supplement that with funds from their PTSA's and contributions, but what we find is that schools that are in more wealthy neighborhoods are able to have more instrumental music instruction. Those that aren't can't afford it."

One goal of the program has been to bring more balance to that picture so, "there's greater representation from all of the neighborhoods (..) The music teacher at Denny has more than doubled her enrollment since the program began and that's just the tip of the iceberg because we're seeing this mass of kids coming up from the elementary schools," said Radcliffe.

SYSO selected West Seattle because it allowed them to have, "a vertically aligned program," said Radcliffe meaning kids from elementary schools would get instruction and it would continue through Denny International Middle School and on up the Chief Sealth International High School. "The thought is that if you sow a lot of seeds you will have a rich harvest and indeed that's what we're seeing.

Lessons occur before, during and after school, as a component of regularly scheduled school Elementary Instrumental Music (EIM) instructional time. Students work with "Artist-Teachers" on beginning instrumental technique, school orchestra material, and selected music for year-end "graduation" concerts. Coaches "team teach" with school music teachers on securing instrumental methods and locating, selecting and maintaining musical instruments.

Students also go to the West Seattle Community Orchestra where the teachers continue the instruction. "The kids are getting three lessons a week instead of just one," said Radcliffe.

The effect of the effort has been extremely positive. "Kids are more engaged at school and we also have data about their test scores that they are doing better than their peer group and it creates a more meaningful school environment. It's a learning mode that translates to other learning."

The West Seattle Strings Project is currently operating in the following Southwest Seattle Schools serving more than 265 students :
• Arbor Heights Elementary School
• Concord Elementary School
• Denny Middle School
• Gatewood Elementary School
• Highland Park Elementary School
• Roxhill Elementary School
• Sanislo Elementary School
• West Seattle Elementary School

Radcliffe also points out that the program saves the school district money, "because if you don't have a robust band and orchestra program in your high school you have to hire three teachers teach classrooms of 20 kids each. School boards across the country are starting to realize this."

The final Seattle Youth Symphony concert of the 2011-2012 season will be an epic performance of Verdi's Requiem on May 20, 2012 at 3:00pm.

For more details on the performance download the linked file above.

This will conclude The Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra’s 69th season with the Giuseppe Verdi's monumental Messa da Requiem, one of the most powerfully emotional classical works of all time. Seattle’s top listener-supported classical music station KING-FM will broadcast this masterful performance on Wednesday, May 23 at 8 p.m.

Tickets are still available for the concert at 3:00 pm at Benaroya Hall. Tickets range from $15 to $40 with discounts for students, seniors, and rush tickets. They can be purchased online at the door or reserved now by calling (206) 362-2300.