When Lori Franke moved her family to Gilroy from Southern
California seven years ago, she was saddened to learn of its lack
of a strong music program in the local schools.
Not anymore.
When Lori Franke moved her family to Gilroy from Southern California seven years ago, she was saddened to learn of its lack of a strong music program in the local schools.
Not anymore.
“Gilroy is becoming a real cultural center,” she said. “These students are real advanced. It’s starting to happen in Gilroy. That’s what I worked hard for and it’s starting to pay off.”
Franke, artist in residence for the Antonio Del Buono School through the California Arts Council and sponsored through the Theatre Angels, has spent the last five years building an army of young violinists in South County. She teaches more than 100 of them a week at Del Buono and through the South Valley Suzuki String Academy.
“And I’m not the only violin teacher (in town),” she said.
Franke’s Suzuki String performance group, made up of 25 children ages 6 to 16, has planned several appearances as the holidays approach. The group will play a short set at the Morgan Hill Community Christmas Concert at 8 p.m. today at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1790 E. Dunne in Morgan Hill.
There also will be two 30-minute shows for the Victorian Christmas Celebration at noon and 1 p.m. Saturday at the Willey House, 140 Fifth Street in Gilroy; and a 30-minute set including Christmas songs and fiddle music at 3 p.m. Saturday at Luigi Aprea, 9225 Calle Del Rey in Gilroy.
“It’s just so thrilling,” Franke said of hearing her students perform. “People don’t think the kids will get up there and be in tune or sound good. All of my students sound good. They don’t play out of tune.
“It touches your soul,” she said. “If you couldn’t tell, this is my passion.”
Franke adapted her teaching method through the Shinichi Suzuki method of mastering violin. His idea was based on the theory that learning to play music is much like learning a new language.
“It’s a method of teaching children by listening,” she said. “There are Suzuki teachers all over the world. It’s a movement that won’t quit.”
Fifty-seven Del Buono students meet with her individually for half-hour sessions during the week, and the Suzuki String Academy meets from 3 to 6 p.m. Fridays at the school.
The students, w\ho come from as far away as Hollister and Aromas, start playing violin and listening to tapes, learning to recognize tones. Later, the students begin to learn more music theory, begin playing musical mind games, learn to play together in groups and learn to read and write music.
Franke said she had no idea the music program and academy would get to where they are today.
“I just kept taking more students.” she said. “This year I had 20 openings and I had 120 applications. I thought that said a lot for the program.”
Franke’s biggest worry is what some of her young phenoms will do when they leave the strings program at Antonio Del Buono.
“I have 10 of them going into junior high next year, and I hope there is something there for them,” she said.
She said the Suzuki method can work for anyone and for any instrument.
“You’re never too old and never too young to twinkle,” Franke said. ” ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ is the first song they learn.”
The Suzuki performing group is planning a trip to Germany in 2004. The group visited England last year.
“We went to London just after 9-11,” Franke said. “Just before that we learned a song called ‘Let There Be Peace on Earth.’ I had the words typed up and we had everyone stand up and sing it at the shows. We were kind of ambassadors of peace. We plan to do that in Germany also.”
The group has begun raising money for the trip, which will cost about $2,500 per student.
“We want to do enough fund raising so every kid can go for free,” Franke said. “A lot of these kids wouldn’t have the opportunity to perform without this program. It’s a wonderful way to learn music.”
To donate money for the Suzuki String performance group call 847-0615.
