JOY is a kindergartener playing the violin.

Hello Friends of JOY!

My name is Amy Brunner and I am the new Program Director of the Junior Orchestra of Yamhill County. I have been a lifelong musician, starting the cello when I was six years old. Growing up, I watched my father as a music teacher and was inspired to become one myself. Teaching a variety of orchestra, choir, and band in Yamhill Carlton and Bend for the past thirteen years, I deepened my understanding and love for the impact that music has on a student’s life. In 2022, I completed my Masters in Education with a focus on educational leadership through George Fox University. This helped me complete my principal licensure. I feel that my experiences as a music teacher and the administrative licensure program have helped with my understanding of the current inner workings of our public schools. My experiences thus far have given me tools to help navigate this new Program Director role. I am lucky to be surrounded by fantastic and hard working YES Board Members, YES employees, and JOY Teaching Artists that believe in this work. 

We are excited about the growth of JOY. This fall, we began to offer kindergarten classes at three more elementary schools in Yamhill County. In McMinnville, JOY is now offered in four elementary schools and there are plans to be in all six McMinnville schools next year. Also next year, JOY will offer the after school orchestra program for 2nd graders at two of the McMinnville sites. In Newberg, JOY is offered in two elementary schools and we are being approached to add another next year. The community at large, including parents, private lesson teachers, school music teachers, and school leaders are supportive in making these expansions happen.

Currently, 672 students are playing violin, viola, or cello with 582 of those students accessing those lessons during their regular school days. The kindergarteners and 1st graders have begun their year with box violins. 1st graders reviewed what they learned last year and quickly "graduated" on to their real violins. Kindergarteners have been using the box violin to learn how to hold the instrument and how to keep it safe. They will begin the real violins in January! 

In October, Violinist Anna Lee and a George Fox University collegiate quartet visited the after school orchestra. They performed music, answered questions, talked about the harmonics on the instrument, and then played with our young musicians. Students were in awe, to say the least. Gathering input from visitors like this has helped us look at our programming through a new lens and we are committed to consistently bettering our offerings.

In November, the JOY After School Chamber Orchestra performed for the Newberg School Board under the direction of Sadie Lapiers. In December, all three JOY After School Orchestras at Edwards had a concert for family and friends under the direction of Sadie Lapiers and Sara Heyen. The music for concerts ranges from songs learned by rote to age appropriate orchestral literature with challenging syncopations and multiple parts. The week before this concert, there was an excited energy around performing. The night of the concert was packed with family, friends, and even some of the Edwards Elementary School teachers that students had invited. Students were professional under the pressure and did a great job performing what they had been working on. There was even a surprise visit from Santa, who conducted the students while they played "Jingle Bells." 

We have welcomed a new contracted position this year: Assistant Teaching Artist. The ATA role is open to collegiate or high school level musicians that are interested in furthering their impact on their music community by educating youth. ATAs work with the after school 2-5 grade students. We have five students from the Newberg High School Chamber Orchestra that went through an interview process and were hired for the ATA positions this year. With guidance from our Teaching Artists, the ATAs work directly with students to lead sectionals, work one on one to correct left and right hand posture, and set an overall good example for the 2-5 grade students. The ATAs will hopefully add extra motivation for the JOY students to continue playing all the way into high school. Experiences like this can be just as meaningful for ATAs as they are for our JOY students. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of JOY. It is with your support that we have been able to reach so many students over the past seven years. We are excited to continue to grow the program and welcome many more students. If you have not already done so, please sign up to give recurring donations through GlobalGiving on our project page “JOY is a Kindergartener Playing the Violin.”

Links:

• Visit our website to find out more about JOY