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Columbus Symphony Provides Coaching Sessions to Columbus City Schools
March 20, 2023 -- Columbus City Schools students got the chance to learn and ask questions of Columbus Symphony orchestra members as part of recent coaching sessions.
These coaching sessions were part of Music in Our Schools Month with the Columbus Symphony. The Columbus Symphony hosted its 2023 Columbus Symphony Benefit Week with over 1,000 CCS students. Nearly 50 full-time musicians volunteered to teach masterclasses, perform chamber group concerts, and musical storytimes.
For Allison Wodkowski, sessions meant providing real-world advice for her orchestra students at Dominion and Ridgeview Middle Schools.
“I know my students enjoy having professional musicians,” Wodkowski said. “They are in awe. I have had times when musicians come in and students ask for their autographs.”
Wodkowski, an orchestra specialist who splits her time between Dominion and Ridgeview, remembered jumping on the chance for coaching sessions at her schools. So she was excited when she learned that her students would get the opportunity.
“I grew up singing in the Columbus Children’s Choir, and it was such a formative experience for me,” Wodkowski said. “It was valuable for me to have access to those great works, and I try to provide those same experiences for my students. These coaching sessions provide an opportunity for students to get real-world advice on the next steps in their music education.”
Ridgeview Middle School orchestra students had a session with Russ Gill, CSO bassist. Later that same day, Wodkowski’s Dominion Middle School’s orchestra students learned from David Edge, CSO violinist.
“We all enjoy helping out in these schools,” Gill said. “Community service is the reason for our Benefit Week and these coaching sessions.”
During Ridgeview’s coaching session, Gill focused lessons on tone, intonation, and how string players could create a beautiful sound using their full bow. However, Wodkowski hopes the lessons they learned from that day inspire them well into the future.
“I try to foster a culture of excellence, so students feel empowered to continue their musical education,” Wodkowski said. “I hope that through class and special coaching sessions like the one we had will turn into a beautiful cycle where kids start to sound better, so they practice more.”
Gill hoped students took away from the session inspiration, confidence, and the value of teamwork.
“Being a team player is important in the orchestra,” Gill said. “You’re listening to everyone else play and trying to fit as smoothly as possible. You’re not trying to do everything yourself. It’s a team sport. You learn that in music. It’s about the ensemble.”