Teacher’s Goal for Classes Has Strings Attached

The smooth, mellow sound of violins and cellos often echoes through the halls of the city’s Orangeview Junior High, the result of a mission by teacher Ed Craig to bring string music to his students.

Craig, who also teaches an after-school string class for gifted musicians from across Anaheim Union High School District, is working with music teachers at other schools to start other string groups.

“It’s a long-term goal for me,” he said. “I want to try to introduce strings back into all Anaheim Union schools.”

The district used to offer stringed instrument classes but stopped doing so in the early 1970s because of lack of funds.

Craig started his push for an Orangeview orchestra five years ago with the support of school district officials. Two years ago, he helped Western High School start a string group so that his students would not have to give up their music when they left junior high.

Money was a big issue, Orangeview Principal Donna Perry said, so Craig “went around and salvaged instruments from different schools to get this started here.”

Craig rummaged through school closets and uncovered about 50 abandoned instruments, many of which date back to before World War II.

He still has about 15 of those treasures, which he hopes to restore himself. That project does not have as high a priority for him, though, as working with his 38 regular students, who range in skill level from beginning to advanced, as well as his after-school group.

Besides instruction from Craig, the students work with tutors whom Craig brings to class twice a week to coach the young musicians. Several field trips a year to hear professional performances are also part of the program.

“Most of them have never been to an orchestral performance before,” Craig said. “I only wish I could take them more often.”

One of the students, 14-year-old Nelia Moo of Anaheim, said the classes prepare students well for school concerts and competitions.

“When you see the people looking at you, you’re a bit nervous,” said Moo, who plays the viola. “But then you realize it sounds good, and you feel nice.”

Nick Sava, 12, of Buena Park said he appreciates the contrast between the sound of strings and the more flamboyant presentation of the school marching band.

Strings are “not as noisy as wind instruments,” said Sava, who plays double bass. “The wind instruments are kind of high-pitched, and I don’t like that. These are more smooth, and fun.”