An Orchestra in Our Midst

students will hold their last musical concert of the year in a week, and their instructor, Arlene Miyata, is working hard to prepare them.

Some of the students have “grown exponentially, from not knowing anything to being section leaders,” said Miyata. “That makes me feel good.”

Just five years ago, before the merger of the Whisman School district with Mountain View's, Crittenden didn't have an orchestra program. But "after the merger, the new district looked for ways to make things equitable," said Karen Robinson, the school's principal.

Its first orchestra began in 2006 with the help of the parcel tax and had 10 students.

"Now we have 45 students in our beginning and advanced orchestras, and we are proud of them," Robinson said.

There is a beginning orchestra and an advanced/intermediate orchestra, for which students can audition. There are also band and choir options. The students have fun as they learn to play their instruments, according to Miyata.

Seventh-grader Serena Smith said she just learned how to play the violin in beginning orchestra. Then she tried out this year and found that she loved it.

“I just like to try new stuff,” said Serena, one of the students Miyata noted had made a lot of improvement.

The dynamic group of students has many opportunities ahead, including trips, concerts, education, and meeting new people.

“We get to talk with other students we don’t normally have in our classes,” said seventh-grader Mateo Gomez.

The music department organizes two fundraisers a year, one in the fall and one in the spring, to help pay for the group’s trips, including the Magic Music Days in Anaheim, an-every-other-year trip, because of budget constraints.

Last year, the fundraisers brought in $8,000-$10,000, while this school year $5,000-$8,000 was raised, according to Miyata.

With such a disciplined sport as playing instruments, a teacher’s passion makes all the difference.

“She makes it really fun,” said eighth-grader Joseph Phan. “We even play rhythm games. I think everyone’s really enthusiastic about orchestra.”

Miyata said she came to Crittenden as a temporary teacher in the 2008-09 school year and has taught at the school ever since. Now she teaches both the band and strings classes.

Miyata majored in music at San Jose State University and, at times, plays in the Morgan Hill Wind Symphony. She also teaches the marching band and winter percussions in the fall with her husband at Arroyo High School.

"The Crittenden music teachers are hard-working and dedicated to providing our students with a great musical education and experience,” said Robinson.

Miyata said she enjoys her work with the students and tries to make it fun for them, too. The group won both silver and gold last year in Anaheim.

The spring concert for band and orchestra is May 17 in the school gym, and there's no cost to attend.

"Mountain View-Whisman students are lucky our community provides our district the extra funds necessary for these opportunities, through our parcel tax and our Mountain View Education Foundation,” Robinson said.

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