Maple Valley Youth Symphony adds new programs

Published 4:05 pm Friday, September 13, 2013

The Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra is adding two new programs to the list of music programs for the 2012-2013 season to serve more students’ needs.

Jam Club is designed especially for middle school to high school aged students with special needs.

String Academy, a class with two levels to help students develop the skills and confidence needed to play in a larger orchestra setting, is another new offering.

“Jam Club” is a music therapy based music education program designed by MVYSO’s own music therapist and recreation therapist. Students will work on social goals as well as musical goals with their cognitive and physical abilities in mind.

“It is so exciting to get to combine our passions for music and our love of special needs students,” said Elisa Lewis, MVYSO’s executive director.

MVYSO has hired Board Certified Music Therapist Janea Christensen to help create and run the program which will begin Oct. 1.

String Academy will have two levels, one for kindergarten through third grade students who have had about a year of string playing experience. Students will learn the techniques and skills necessary to play with a larger group confidently. This class will be taught by Emily Maulden who has a degree in violin performance and has worked for MVYSO for two years. The second group is for older students who have been trained in the Suzuki Method, but are needing to hone their music reading skills so that they can play confidently in a large group, such as MVYSO’s Jr. Symphony or Symphony. This class is designed to meet them at their Suzuki level as develop their reading skills. Cherlyn Johnson, who has a master’s degree in violin performance will be teaching this group which will start Sept. 31.

Registration is now open for these and all of MVYSO’s programs. For more information about MVYSO’s programs or to register, visit www.mvyso.org or call (425)433-6009.