Orange : Music Classes Restored at Elementary Schools

Music classes in the fifth and sixth grades in Orange Unified School District are scheduled to be restored next month for the first time in five years. The classes were dropped in 1982 because of budget problems.

District officials earlier this year allocated about $46,000 for the classes, said Tom Schrodi, director of instructional services. He said about $36,000 will be used to hire part-time music teachers for one semester, and the remainder will be used to recondition violins, cellos and other string instruments that have been in storage for five years.

In the fifth grade, students are taught to play tonettes, which are plastic, flute-like instruments. Sixth-grade students learn to play string instruments.

William Steiner, president of the school board, said restoration of the music program in the upper elementary grades will help students as they move into more advanced music in the high schools.