Steel in the schools

Dennis Coelho · From: Wyoming, USA

I retired from high school teaching last year but for several years, decades actually, I worked with the orchestra teacher to bring performances of unusual instruments into the school. Sometimes just for his orchestra classes and sometimes for larger groups. Orchestra, being string instrument based, was in many ways more flexible with the curriculum and could open time for these performances of such things as concertinas, hammered dulcimers, mountain dulcimers, diatonic accordions, tenor and 5-string banjos, dobros, and a variety of Renaissance instruments, not to mention old-time and Irish fiddling.

The band guys have a much harder time finding ways to open up the curriculum. They are expected to field a competitive marching band, as well as smaller ensembles for assemblies, pep rallies, etc. etc. the kids have turn out nearly every morning for half of the summer for marching practice. On the other hand, good band programs are often self-sustaining (even profit-making), built on strong parent support groups as well as continuing sales of oranges, turkeys, candy and the like to the community. A lot of schools also give the band program all of the proceeds from popcorn and soda sales at sports events to buy instruments and uniforms.

I think any psg player who would like to get more kids interested should contact the orchestra teacher in their local school about a demonstration. Can't hurt. That's pretty much the way they got golf and tennis into the public schools. Dennis

Sidney Ralph Penton · From: Moberly, Missouri, USA

well i dont' know what the cost is of a lot of the wind insturments but for example the string insturments you mention is fairly cheap compared to a pedal steel guitar. if you use a starter model well your going to have at least a grand in it. if you go to a pro model your looking at 3 grand by the time you get your amp cables etc. now say they agree to putting a psg into the works. then there is the problem of teaching a youth to play the insturment. who is going to do that? i have searched around talked to teachers etc. and no one knows how to play the psg except another player. i have been doing this on my own i am self tought will be 3 years in april 07 and i play only gospel music and was not ready to do so untill almost 2 years of learning. this is not a insturment that can be picked up and learned in a month or two it will take many hours of pratice and instruction to accomplish this task. and with todays youth they mostly like rap and all that other stuff. so you see there is many problems in trying this but it would be nice to see something like this take place. just my oppinion. doc

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