By LISA HLAVINKA
Staff Writer

BRUNSWICK — It can be safely assumed the phrase “I love first period,” is not often uttered by middle-schoolers.

The words, however, echoed throughout Holy Trinity Lutheran Church by the students in Becky Holliday’s orchestra class, who put on a concert for about 70 Harmony preschoolers Friday morning.

After 31 years teaching students how to play string instruments, Holliday, 53, is retiring from Brunswick City Schools this spring.

Becky Holliday, who has been teaching students in Brunswick schools for 31 years how to play string instruments, assists Gabriella Theiss, 4¾, in playing a short tune at Harmony Preschool in Brunswick on Friday. (Andrew Dolph | Staff Photographer)

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“That’s my favorite — middle school,” Holliday said of her students. “They so want to please you, but they’re adult enough to really do some in-depth things with.”

Along with her students, she brought her daughter’s first violin with her, tiny in comparison to a full-sized one.

Before the concert began, Holliday asked several Harmony preschoolers to volunteer to play an instrument.

Gabriella Theiss, who said she is “four and three-quarters” years old, played “Merrily We Roll Along” on the violin with Holliday’s help.

The actual concert was animal-themed. Before each song, the middle school students held up posters of lions, tigers, squirrels and skunks for whatever animal the song represented.

The preschoolers clapped along to the music, shouting “bravo!” after each song. Some even pretended to be conductors.

“Kids relate to the music we do,” Holliday said. “I try to teach my students that you should play music that your audience can relate to.”

She said the mathematical nature of classical music helps to develop the left and right side of the brain.

Studies have shown students with music education score an average of 30 points higher on SATs, Holliday said.

Christina Roberts, 13, a bass player, said playing music gives her an outlet to be creative.

“I like that it’s something you can express yourself with,” she said. “I’m a music person.”

Like many of the orchestra students, Christina has been playing since she was in fourth grade.

Keeping students interested in music during high school can be a challenge as students have more responsibilities. However, Holliday said the ones who really love playing stick with it in the long run.

“I always tell the kids it’s only easy when you really want to do it,” she said. “If the desire is there, it’s easy.”

Holliday said she is looking forward to spending more time playing violin with her husband of 31 years, Keith, a viola player.

Since 1979, the couple has played in chamber and symphony orchestras, and currently performs in a quartet called “Divertimento.”

Although Holliday joked she and her husband are looking forward to sleeping in after her retirement, she said she will miss the children.

“It’s really neat to teach something you’re so passionate about yourself, and seeing them take an interest in it,” she said.

Hlavinka may be reached at 330-721-4048 or lhlavinka@ohio.net.

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