Instrument of Education : Program Brings World of Music to O.C. Youngsters

FULLERTON —  “Keep the beat, keep the beat,” John-patrick Yeiser repeated, creating a rhythm with his words as he took first-graders at Sunset Lane Elementary School in Fullerton on a sort of musical trip around the world.

The youngsters were playing some of the hundreds of musical instruments Yeiser has acquired from world trips. Other instruments--some of the more colorful and crude handmade ones--also were displayed for pupils to see, touch and play.

The session may be the only introduction to music they receive until the higher grades. Even then, there may not be enough money for any type of continuing music program, as school districts wrestle with cutbacks brought on by state budget woes.

“With all the cutbacks, we need to look at alternatives,” said Elizabeth Schuck, principal at Adelaide Price Elementary School in Anaheim. “It looks as if we will have to eliminate our music program next year.”

Schuck said her school, like others, will look for resident artists, local musicians and people such as Yeiser to make special musical presentations to replace what, if any, musical programs they currently offer.

Some will turn to the Orange County Philharmonic Society and its Music Mobile Van, which is filled with violins, cellos, French horns, drums and flutes and other instruments of the orchestra for students to see and hear.

The van visits, free to schools, are funded by the society’s fund-raising committees.

Schools will also be looking at other resource people such as Ileana Tomeu Gulmesoff, a former Cypress schoolteacher who presents an “Around the World” assembly that allows students to sing, dance and try on costumes native to other countries.

“These are the types of resource people schools will have to depend on,” said Schuck.

Adds Marie Clement, coordinator of visual and performing arts for the Orange County Department of Education: “Creative scheduling and creative funding will be necessary to continue the music programs.”

In particular, she said, businesses that make musical instruments or are otherwise music-dependent may be called on during the budget crunch to help schools pay for such programs as Yeiser’s.

“They won’t be in business long if they don’t have anyone to buy what they make,” she said.

Fullerton’s Sunset Elementary School PTA spends about $5,000 a year for Yeiser’s weekly visits to the school.

“We are positive the program makes the children more creative and confident, which makes them better overall students, and the teachers are thrilled with him,” said Yvonne M. Chavez, PTA vice president in charge of music.

“He is bringing more than music with him,” she said. “He’s teaching them to be creative and teaching them the history of music around the world.”

The instruments Yeiser played that particular day included an electric guitar, cello, bass, violin and percussion instruments from Africa, China, South Seas islands, Latin America and Jamaica. As students were selected to play instruments, they were called to a small stage. After the session, they applauded each other’s musical efforts.

His presentation seemed to generate as much general good feeling as specific information about music, particularly in a sing-along finale in which he encouraged students to turn to one another and sing the lyrics: “I like you, there’s no doubt about it. I’m your best friend.”

Many of them used the word love instead of like.

“They do that on their own,” said Yeiser, who seemed to be getting as big a charge out of the program as the kids.

“I get tremendous joy and fulfillment from this. I suppose I’m an idealist,” the Huntington Beach resident said. “I operate under the assumption that every human being has an innate drive to create. All they need is the free space to do it.”

Music should be an integral part of every elementary school program, Orange County educators said.

“Basically this is (a trend in) elementary education. Elementary school teachers have to teach the basics,” said Principal Dan Brooks at W. R. Nelson Elementary School in Tustin. “We are still supposed to teach music and art, but sometimes it’s the thing that gets left out.”

He said besides the shortage of money, there are not enough hours in the day for teachers to teach everything, including music.

“Having a resource person like (Yeiser) gives us a chance to present a quality program,” he said. “The lessons he has taught with teachers present has given the teachers inspiration and a new drive to teach what they learned.”

Connie Underhill, a Placentia Unified School District trustee, fears the large number of minority pupils and those from lower-income families in her district will be the hardest hit by music education cutbacks.

“I hate to see the music go,” said Underhill, who noted that about 20% of the district’s enrollment are minorities. “Rich people can afford special music for their kids, but what about the others?”

She also feels resource people may be the short-term answer.

“The kids absolutely love (Yeiser),” she continued. “His look at the function of music is different. He realizes music is a real necessity of a child’s life.”

Before his presentation, Yeiser talked about the money shortage in Orange County schools and the reality that music programs may be one casualty.

“There are other avenues for the students to express themselves,” he said, “and I’m one of those avenues.”

He noted however, that the recession has also made things difficult for the PTAs that pay his fee. “I’m not as busy as I have been,” he said.