Violin experience the real McCoy for Tzouanakis fourth-graders

Monday, November 23, 2015
Concentrating on strings instruction, Tzouanakis Intermediate School fourth-grader Olivia Karish plucks away at the violin she's received in a unique program in which the DePauw University School of Music has partnered with Greencastle Schools to provide a free violin and free string instruction to every fourth-grader in Greencastle. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

About two dozen attentive Tzouanakis Intermediate School students weren't fiddling around, but they were plucking the daylights out of new violins they've been given in a unique partnership between the DePauw University School of Music and the Greencastle Community School Corporation.

In only their fourth day of violin exposure the students were fixated on strings instruction specialist Shannon Crow. With her own youthful passion, she moved deftly among them, issuing commands like "bear claw" and "Statue of Liberty" that brought a smile to the face of DePauw University School of Music Dean Mark McCoy as he watched from the doorway of the Tzouanakis music room.

"None of these kids had even seen a violin before," McCoy beamed, gesturing toward the room of nouveau violin devotees. "Now they've had one four days and they're (playing) in tune."

Amazing, since they hadn't yet been issued bows for their violins. Yet they already know Crow's Rule No. 2 -- "no sword fighting."

It all made McCoy think back to his formative years in the West Virginia-Maryland area.

"In my case," he said, "my exposure to instruments and music changed my life."

Plucking out a few notes, Jesse Daniels (front) tackles the violin as Brianna Reece (back left) and Keigon Collenbaugh behind him follow suit. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

As a first-generation college graduate, McCoy was raised in a rural, tree-covered region of Appalachia. "A place not unlike Putnam County," he offered.

"Growing up, I had not seen a violin up close nor heard one played until I was 18," added McCoy, who later completed three music degrees, including one at Peabody Institute in Baltimore, one of the most prestigious music conservatories in the country.

"I know that feeling to see and hear a violin for the first time," McCoy continued. "I was mesmerized where that sound came from. I thought, 'that must be magic. '"

Now dean of the DePauw School of Music, McCoy knows firsthand the life-changing experience of music-making and is determined to bring that opportunity to every child in Putnam County.

"There should be a way that any kid who's interested can learn music," he said, speaking to the ill-founded notion that classical music is only for the affluent.

"To break that barrier here in Putnam County would be really great," McCoy said.

After months of planning, McCoy's dream of initiating a Putnam County String Project at Tzouanakis was realized in late October. The new program was launched with both instruments and instruction provided at no cost to families of an enthusiastic group of emerging fourth-grade musicians.

"If it works," he said, "we'll expand the program to other fourth grades (at other schools) and vertically to fifth- and sixth-graders."

The goal is to lead to a Putnam County Youth Orchestra.

"Actually," McCoy added, "I would love to see it evolve to where there's one (an orchestra) in each Putnam County school."

There's no reason that can't happen, he believes.

"If you start someone in the fourth grade," McCoy said, "by the time they get to 11th or 12th grade, they're really good."

Meanwhile, after the 10 lessons this fall, children who discover they love the instrument will have an opportunity to continue in an after-school program to be offered in January.

Those who can afford to rent their instruments can do so, and those who cannot will be provided an instrument without cost as long as they continue to participate. Whenever an instrument is turned back in, it will be passed on to another child. Think of it as a sort of a community chest -- filled with violins.

Music education is "so much more than singing songs," he assured. And the state education system doesn't have a way to expose youngsters to such programs.

"This is really the grassroots making this happen," McCoy said, crediting the Civic League tax credits program making charitable contributions into a three-for-one match with only a $100 out-of-pocket expense.

"A $300 gift gives a kid a violin forever," he reasoned.

"We're a rich community in that we've got lots of people willing who can do so much. This is us as a community making this happen -- the Civic League, the Putnam County Community Foundation, parents ..."

In partnership, Music on the Square (M2) -- DePauw's Music School venture on the courthouse square -- will offer private, one-on-one instruction for all of the young students. For those children qualifying for the free and reduced lunch program, M2 will offer these lessons free of charge, drawing on music faculty and qualified DePauw School of Music students as instructors.

McCoy calls the project "an effort to level the playing field."

"When the Music School at DePauw adopted Greencastle Middle School, they didn't have a jazz band," he added, stressing that he knows access to musical instruments and lessons doesn't come cheaply.

"I realize now looking back that you've got to have a lot of resources to be a musician," McCoy said, adding that besides instruments and lessons, would-be musicians in rural areas also need access to transportation.

"I talked to Yo Yo Ma when he was here, and he started when he was three. We can't do that," McCoy said. "DePauw can give the space to practice but who's going to give them instruments?"

The community apparently is, as the new program has taken off with really minimal exposure to date.

"This is such an incredible opportunity for these fourth-graders," McCoy said, explaining that he was always intrigued by music but no had real formal training until he got a trumpet in the sixth or seventh grade.

"I sang in church," he said. "I did all that. I loved music and I loved the holidays because of all the music.

"I started on the piano, and eventually we had a piano in our home, and I'm thankful for that. I had an affinity for it more than knowledge, I'd say."

It put McCoy on the path to becoming an elementary music teacher, which he barely survived.

"I was terrible at elementary school," he said. "At the end of the year the principal asked me if I was coming back.

"I said, 'Maybe if that trash collection job I applied for isn't open.' I couldn't do it."

But now as dean of one of the oldest schools of music in the country, McCoy is asked, "Do you play the violin?"

"No," he said, "it's my daughters' instrument. I'm often asked, 'What instrument do you play?'

Mark McCoy, DePauw University School of Music dean, listens as fourth-grader Trenton Campbell excitedly talks about his new violin and how his mother has already taught him to play "Jingle Bells" on it. (Banner Graphic/ERIC BERNSEE)

"Technically, you have to play them all," he responded. "But it's what you play well that counts."

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: