Music to Her Ears

I loved James Ricci’s article about Sweet Strings, the instrumental music program that is growing rapidly in South-Central (“When Making Music for the Soul, It’s All Elementary,” Jan. 14). This good news contrasted sharply with the previous week’s cover story about children growing up in the “killing zone” of Southeast L.A. With more than 250 children on a waiting list, Sweet Strings’ success illustrates a powerful fact: when given a choice, these children would rather dedicate their energies to the practice and performance of music than succumb to the grim realities of their environment. Whether or not these children get that chance depends on the level of support this exceptional program receives from the community.

Margaret Martin

Hollywood