((PKG)) ORCHKIDS
((Banner: Sharing the Spirit))
((Reporter: Deborah Block))
((Camera: Mike Burke))
((Adapted by: Martin Secrest))
((Map: Baltimore, Maryland))
((Courtesy: SEED School of Maryland))
((Banner:
The free program called OrchKids provides classical and jazz music training to local underprivileged youth
Violin teacher Ahreum Kim trained at Baltimore’s prestigious Peabody Institute))
((NATS))
((Ahreum Kim, Violin Teacher))
I heard about, first heard about OrchKids because it was founded by one of the students that went to Peabody. Over the years, I heard the great things that they were working towards in Baltimore inner city, and I saw, literally saw, a job opening and I applied and here I am.
((NATS))
((Ahreum Kim, Violin Teacher))
I realize that some of the students come into the class, into the group setting, with the baggage from all day long. That could be poverty, that could be trouble at home, that could be some arguments they got in. So, when students come in with those baggages, I didn’t know how to deal with that. That was my biggest challenge. They would act out. They would get so quiet, or in so many ways, they would express that, or not express that. And try to get them to learn to play the violin in a room full of other kids.
((NATS))
((Nema Robinson, OrchKids Student))
Classical music is a big thing. It’s very, like, such a good purpose. It could change a lot of people, because they could see, like, oh, these kids really love this music. And they think, oh, like, I never thought that kids would really cling onto this music like this.
((NATS))
((Courtesy: Baltimore Symphony))
((Nema Robinson, OrchKids Student))
There’s people who like the music. But some people are thinking of a high level, like I’m going to do this for college, etc. So, I think a lot of people in my program, they’re determined that they’re going to get their music, because you can see it how they play. I think it’s really cool though, to see younger kids play their instruments and smile when they play.
((Ahreum Kim, Violin Teacher))
Well, Nema is a sweetheart, and she’s been in the program for many years. (She) shows other students, her age and younger, how to be a leader, and be that example.
((NATS))
