SOUNDS OF MUSIC FADING : SCHOOL TRADES TUNES FOR TECHNOLOGY.Byline: Keith Keith may refer to: People with the given name Keith:
In the end, technology beat out music at Kittridge Street Elementary School elementary school: see school. . Professional violinist Gary Gary, city (1990 pop. 116,646), Lake co., NW Ind., a port of entry on Lake Michigan; inc. 1909. Gary was founded by the U.S. Steel Corporation, which purchased the land in 1905 and landscaped it for a city. Gertzweig looked out across the school auditorium auditorium Portion of a theater or hall where an audience sits, as distinct from the stage. The auditorium originated in the theaters of ancient Greece, as a semicircular seating area cut into a hillside. Friday and couldn't help but see himself among the fourth- and fifth-graders, with their violins tucked beneath their chins. Twenty-six years ago when Gertzweig was 10, he sat in that same auditorium, playing his first concert with his first violin violin, family of stringed musical instruments having wooden bodies whose backs and fronts are slightly convex, the fronts pierced by two f-hole-shaped resonance holes. . For many students playing Friday, it also was their first concert. But it will be the last at Kittridge - for them or for any other children - unless the school can find $15,000. Music is a victim of the computer revolution. Administrators, teachers and parents decided to end Kittridge's music program so they could hire a full-time technology coordinator, someone to bring the school into the computer age. ``That's pretty important, too,'' conceded con·cede v. con·ced·ed, con·ced·ing, con·cedes v.tr. 1. To acknowledge, often reluctantly, as being true, just, or proper; admit. See Synonyms at acknowledge. 2. Gertzweig, who teaches music part time at the school. ``I just feel the money can come from somewhere else. ``I'm concerned that these kids that started and now are having their first opportunity to play may not get the nurturing they need to master their instrument,'' Gertzweig said. Kittridge Principal Don Watson Don Watson (born 1949) is an author and public intellectual, who was speechwriter to former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating. He lives and works in Melbourne and lectures widely on writing and language. said a committee of parents, teachers and school administrators couldn't find enough money for both computers and music. ``Technology is the area we are the most lacking in,'' Watson said. But music is valuable to children for reasons beyond the obvious, Watson added. ``It has a positive effect on overall learning, particularly in the area of mathematics,'' he said. ``If additional funds were available from either outside sources or changes in the state budget or district budget, that would be the first thing we would add back.'' Friday afternoon, fourth-grader Jeena Mendez picked up her violin for a last concert at Kittridge. She has been playing since second grade and dreams of being a professional violinist like Gertzweig one day. ``I think there should be music,'' the 10-year-old Van Nuys girl said, ``and not so many computers.'' Ten-year-old La Renna McGee began studying clarinet clarinet, musical wind instrument of cylindrical bore employing a single reed. The clarinet family comprises all single-reed instruments, including the saxophone. The predecessor of the modern clarinet was the simpler chalumeau, which J. C. at Kittridge just three months ago but already was good enough to play with the advanced students. Would she rather have a music program or more computer education? La Renna squinted her eyes trying to make the choice. ``I'd give up - man This is hard.'' ``Yes,'' said Assistant Principal Gerry Morrison Storie. ``We had the same problem.'' La Renna eventually chose music over computers. After all, the North Hollywood youngster wants to be like her music teacher, Phyllis Newman For the Young and the Restless character, see . Phyllis Newman (born March 19, 1933) is a Tony Award-winning American actress and singer. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, she attended PS 17 and Lincoln High School where she was voted "Future Hollywood Star" . Newman also taught Gertzweig at Kittridge 26 years ago. Now Gertzweig plays with the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. Orchestra and a quartet, ``Sagewing.'' And Newman is retiring. She listened to her students tune their instruments, racing up and down the musical scales. ``The sad thing is,'' she said, ``that the children are not going to get what they need to develop into whole, well-educated human beings because technology does not replace the joy of making music and sharing it with others.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (color) Jeena Mendez performs at the last concert at Kittridge Street Elementary School, which is terminating its music program. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
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