Every Tuesday afternoon, soon after the 7th period bell rings at East Chapel Hill High, a group of more than 20 Wildcat musicians journey over to Phillips Middle School. Some carpool, some take the city bus. They roll up their sleeves, forget about their own homework for an hour, and pay it forward.
Two years ago, Jack Welsby, now a senior at East, met with his former Phillips orchestra teacher, Ann Daaleman, and he proposed starting a mentoring program for her current students. “We set up a plan during the summer,” Ms. Daaleman said, “but quite honestly, I thought it would last a month or two and then everyone would get too busy to continue or lose interest. Instead, it is growing and prospering in Year Two and reaching many of my students. It’s also spread to our band program.”
In fact, nearly 60 Phillips students, participants in Ms. Daaleman’s orchestra and Mr. Ashley Sample’s band programs, are now involved in the after school mentoring.
As any parent of a young musician knows, the cost of ongoing private lessons can be expensive...and completely out of reach for many families. Ms. Daaleman said, “Many of the Phillips students who participate would not have a chance for private lessons due to finances.” She noted that the high school students involved in the mentoring program are some of the best musicians at East Chapel Hill, with years of private lessons already behind them.
With the help and encouragement of Ryan Ellefsen, the orchestra and band teacher at East Chapel Hill High, students Zac Johnson, clarinet, and Quentin Sieredzki, horn, have helped to coordinate the band side of the mentor program.
When asked about why he chooses to mentor middle school students, Sieredzki explained, “It was kind of natural...and it was a way for me to give back to our middle school band.”
Program founder Welsby said, “The Phillips and East orchestras both have a lot of talent, and it’s hard for beginning students to keep up with the advanced ones. I wanted to offer free lessons so the beginning students would keep up with music.”
Some East students work consistently with the same Phillips musicians, but others teach pairs or small groups, as the numbers dictate. The mentors smile often and radiate patience, even at the end of their own long, demanding school days. “There you go, that was amazing,” one mentor said to a young violinist. “Perfect.”
“I can't tell you how rewarding it is to see my former students come back to teach and inspire my newbies as they learn how to play their first songs,” said Ms. Daaleman. “Even my more advanced students love coming on Tuesdays to work with the high school students.”
The young musicians understand the gift they’ve been given, and their comments reflect that awareness:
"We get to learn things ahead of the class."
"It’s a private tutor for free."
"They help you specifically with what you personally are struggling with."
When asked what he receives from the mentorship program, Johnson stated, “I feel that I am learning to be a better teacher and how to interact with students that are younger and have less experience playing their instrument.”
There really is a bond that develops between the mentors and young musicians. Taniya Rogers, a 6th grade trombonist, asks each week, “Is Megan coming? I really want to work with Megan!”
Ms. Daaleman deflects any credit for this flourishing program, although Jack Welsby said one of the motivations for him has been “to give back to Mrs. Daaleman for helping me find my love for music.” The orchestra teacher’s influence is pervasive. She and Sample are fervent proponents of arts education as part of the district’s larger equity work. They will continue to look for ways to make instrumental music education more widely accessible. Teachers are partnering with the SKAJAJA non-profit on instrument donations for middle school students across the district who want to play but are unable to afford an instrument.
Ms. Daaleman said that this program gives her as much joy as she’s ever experienced in her long teaching career. “I just sit at my desk and observe this magic and enjoy seeing the smiles, the relationships and the learning.”
