VIVALDI ROCKS!

by Dave Hercock

Orchestra Director

Cinnaminson High School

Cinnaminson, NJ

May 2005

Three hundred first and second graders clapping their hands, tapping their feet, shaking their heads and rocking to Bach and Vivaldi!

Impossible, you may say, but not when Mark Wood, a classically trained viola player visits your school district.

In the space of twenty-four hours, Mark Wood, owner of Wood Violins and his "Electrify Your Strings" program changed the Cinnaminson, NJ School District’s string program forever. His virtuosic performance, ranging from Vivaldi and Bach, through Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles to his own original work, left students spellbound.

In two days, performing on a seven-string Viper electric violin of his own design that had been lovingly created with the same hands and fingers that had students not just wanting but clamoring to play the violin, Wood mesmerized over 1,000 students.

Faculty (including math teachers!), were enthralled too; "I wanted to flick my Bic!" said one teacher. "It was like a private rock concert just for our school," commented another. "The best assembly ever in all my 20 years of teaching!" raved an elementary school veteran. Resounding approval was unanimous.

Wood and his wife, singer Laura Kaye who will work with the Cinnaminson Chamber Choir, will be back in June to conduct a two-day workshop with all of the district’s nearly 200 string players. The workshop will focus on the art of improvisation for electric and acoustic strings. Mark will also bring a selection of electric violins for them to experience for themselves. Topics include in-depth segments on improvisation and discussions of musical ideas, along with a composition portion in which the students will use what they learn to create their own pieces of music. Students from grades 2 - 12 will demonstrate and apply these learned techniques.

The two days will culminate in a live concert on June 3rd by the Cinnaminson students, accompanied by Mark Wood and Laura Kaye. A highlight of the evening will include arrangements by Mark Wood that have been created especially for the district.

The excitement generated throughout the district has resulted in students outside the traditional music department - the garage band guitarists and drummers, who have taught themselves and can already play by ear- expressing a desire to be part of the workshop. Add to this the numerous parents, teachers and alumni exhilarated at the prospect of performing on stage with the Emmy-winning, Trans-Siberian Orchestra violinist Mark Wood, and you can be sure that the Cinnaminson School District string program will continue to grow and strengthen!

The passion generated by Mark’s first visit, and the anticipation of an exciting June event have established support from all areas of the district including administration, teachers, parents of string students AND non- string students as well as alumni. With string educators like Mark Wood and his unique instruments, including his electric-blue neon violin, the future of string playing sounds, and looks, brighter than ever!