The sounds of violins, violas, and cellos fill the air. It’s time for The Baltimore Bows Recital rehearsal, where the musicians are all under the age of eighteen. Under the direction of Mr. Yonatan Grinberg, the program has been helping kids in the Baltimore community fulfill their passion.
Mr. Grinberg was kind enough to spend a few minutes with Olam Yehudi and share some information about the program.
OY: What can you tell us about Baltimore Bows?
YG: The Bows is a beginner program, starting all kids from the very first note! The music program is called CEMA – Chamber Encounters Music Academy. That’s for more advanced kids and includes an orchestra and chamber music groups.
We also offer private lessons for children and adults of all ages. They range from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the client. We have also begun giving music lessons in schools. In fact, we currently have 30 students in Yeshiva Darchei Noam.
I understand that you don’t accept students younger then age seven. Can you tell us why?
Every time we had a student younger then seven, he or she would drop out – and rejoin a number of years later. We realized that children under seven have different needs. That being said, we do offer private lessons for very young children.
It is said that learning to play an instrument gives children more than just a technical know-how. Can you explain why that is?
Our music programs are designed to give children an unforgettable year that will help them develop in every area of their lives. They learn the art of teamwork and achieving goals, they become more self-confident. Science shows that learning how to play a musical instrument can improve your IQ and memory – MRIs of the brain taken while people were playing instruments or listening to music look like firework displays! Music is a great way to connect with other people and, as we know from the fact that music was played in the Bais HaMikdash, it’s a great way to connect to Hashem.
Is that why you started Baltimore Bows?
Music can change people’s lives! It can make us happy, feel less pain when we are sad and open our hearts to Hashem. It’s such a zechut to be able to give that gift to so many children (we have had hundreds of students who would have never touched an instrument otherwise)! After moving to Baltimore so many people reached out and were interested in music lessons. So after having a meeting with a few families and finding an organization that would donate space and instruments we were off!
Do you have any stories to share with us?
There are so many. Here is one that stands out. A couple of years ago we were asked to open for the group Maccabeats and play one song with them. It was so special. A small group of 12 advanced kids played the opening. They learned to go on the stage on their own without a conductor. They talked to the audience on their own, started and finished on their own, and stood with complete confidence and huge smiles in front of a 1,000 people!
Do you have any plans for the future?
Of course. We want every child in our community to have the opportunity to explore his or her own musical voice. We want to allow kids to pursue music through high school and college without compromising on a kosher environment. We want to open programs like this in every Jewish community so that we can all reconnect on the deepest level with this beautiful art that is not everything it should be after close to 2,000 years of Galut!
Spending the day with kids in the program gave us the opportunity to speak with a few students.
E. Bashyrov, is a 10-year-old who plays the violin.
OY: E., How long have you been playing the violin?
E: I have been playing for three whole school years.
Is it a difficult instrument to play?
When you first start out it’s hard. Once you get into playing it gets easier. I tried to play the guitar. That lasted one day only. My mom inspired me with a video from the Baltimore Bows, and it showed some people playing. I said to myself, “Hey I also want to play.” I asked my mom to sign me up.
What inspired you to choose the violin?
I really liked the song from Fiddler on the Roof. I wanted to play the violin like that. I once even saw Joshua Bell, a famous violinist. I asked him what inspired him to play his violin. He told me that his two older sisters were already playing piano, and he wanted to play something different. It was exciting to meet a real famous violinist.
What’s your favorite part about The Baltimore Bows?
My favorite part is that there are a lot of kids and it’s social. There are amazing teachers and a good building.
What advice would you give to other kids who might want to play an instrument?
Playing a violin is hard. You have to put in effort. And sometimes you want to play with kids outside, but if you want to be a great player, you have to put in a lot of time. You can’t get anywhere if you don’t put in time. Great musicians put in like 5 hours a day.
How much time do you practice?
About a half an hour a day.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to be an architect, but on the side play violin. I see myself playing in front of my relatives or a small concert hall.
Are you scared playing in front of others?
No. I love playing in front of crowds.
M. Schwartz is an 11-year-old member of CEMA.
OY: M., what instrument do you play?
M: I play the viola. My parent gave me the options to play a stringed instrument (violin, viola, or cello) or piano, and I said I want to play a stringed instrument. So I started with the viola.
What is your favorite part about playing with CEMA?
There are people to talk to. People to practice with. People to help you improve your playing. People critique me on what I am doing and how to make my playing better.
How long do you practice?
I don’t practice a lot. It turns out that people who practice too much drop out first. I am playing an instrument because it’s fun for me.
What are your plans for the future?
To play more professionally. I want to be an artist, an architect, carpenter, scientist, singer, and an inventor and a composer. By the way, I composed a piece called “Dark.” Its for two violins, viola, and cello. My chamber group and I performed it in the last winter Baltimore Bows performance.
What’s the best part about the viola?
If you have emotions that you want to share, just playing an instrument allows you to express your feelings. It is hard, you should practice, but it’s a fun experience that other people should have as well.
“Step into My Shoes,” a new book by Danielle Sarah Storch and Tova Ness Aiver is now available at your local bookstore.