Principal Yen Shi-Chen

The Idea was Supported

In early 2004, Dr. Yang brought up the idea of founding a string ensemble to Mr. Yen, the principal of Nan-Guo Elementary school. He hoped to push forward an inter-school strategic alliance with Nan-Guo Elementary school as the nucleus. Then, Dr. Yang frequently visited many schools' principals to talk about music popularization and presented the develop plan of CSEDL. After communicating with the principals, and information collecting, the plan of founding a string ensemble was gradually shaping.

The next step was to explain the type and function of the string ensemble to the chiefs of every school, and investigate the music specialties and teaching preference of teachers of every school. Then , after estimating the conditions of founding the ensemble and gathering suggestion, the preparation of CSEDL committee was started.

The Most Actual Considerable Facts

Dr. Yang indicated 6 considerable facts of founding an ensemble:

1. Learing the violin costs very high fee.

   Funds: The violins are rented, so the school and parents need not afford the fee. And the tuition is shared by ensemble members.
2. Teacher: Several schools together develop a violin-teachers-group. So the teacher source is stable. Moreover, it provides employment for talents of college music departments.
3. Student: Small to medium-sized schools can take a whole grade as an ensemble, while large schools pick out members from all students.
4. Place: The music classroom.
5. Administration: Entrust 1-2 directors or teachers to help manage the ensemble.
6. Parents: They contribute money and assistance.

With these facts considered, the general violin tuition-5000 a month turned out to be only 1000 a month at school. Thus, more children were able to learn the violin.

At first, Dr. Yang only founded a string ensemble, because:

1. A string ensemble requires lower cost and simpler teacher sort.
2. It is highly expandable.
3. The timbres of various string instruments can be highly blended. An ensemble can be joined in wood-wind instruments, percussion instruments, and brass-wind instruments; finally it becomes an orchestra.

After communicating with the principals, Supervisor Chen Shu-Mei, the convener of "Changhua elementary-educational guidance delegation, art and humanity learning area", founded CSEDL for the 15 schools holding the will to have a string ensemble.

A group photo of Supervisor Chen Shu-Mei(3rd of the right)and project members

In Mar. 2004, the first preparatory meeting was held. The participants concluded to engage an ensemble adviser, and to hold training for the executives.

The first "CSEDL principal meeting"was held in Nan-Guo Elementary School, Mar. 2004. In the meeting, the principals concluded to found CSEDL, and elected Mr. Yen Shi-Chen, the principal of Nan-Guo Elementary School as the first chief, and Mr. Xu Mu-Cun, the principal of She-Tou Elementary School as the vice-chief.

The function of CSEDL meeting was to decide the choice of instrument factory, the engagement of teachers, the supervision of teaching quality, and the preparation of yearly united concerts. The 2nd "CSEDL principal meeting"was held in Nan-Guo Elementary School, Apr. 2004. The main topic was "factories exposition" and "instrument-trial". Besides, they invited a violin teacher and a cello teacher to play the instruments provided by the factories. They also decided the factory of the 1st year instrument renting supply.

As for instrument factories, 4 factories joined the exposition. Some of the instruments were made in R.O.C.; some in China. In the end, the meeting proceeded to elect an instrument-renting plan. Chen-Yin Instrument Company of Changhua City was chosen. The way of trade was parents-to-factory, without any involvement of the school.

The greatest difficulty of violin practice is that the tuition is too high. For the violin has been "a noble's instrument", and the tuition per hour is thousands high. Thus, CSEDL planed a strategy -- "lower the price by quantity".

CSEDL supplies teachers with steady income.

By paying only NT 1000 per month, instrument-renting and common teachers, children can easily start to learn the violin. The teachers are chosen from great teachers graduated from music department of colleges. While making the foundation plan of CSEDL, the participants had considered that graduates of music department had difficulty getting steady jobs. CSEDL provides them steady income in daytime, allowing them to have tutor in the evening.

With instruments and teachers, CSEDL could start to operate.

Then, CSEDL planned explanation meetings for parents and music presentational concerts at every school. Dr. Yang led these teachers to hold explanation meetings and performance at every school. They gained hot support from the parents and principals. All the schools started to inquire the parents' will, and prepared to found string ensembles.

Circuit concert in Min-Qiuan Elementary School

Circuit concert in Hemei Elementary School

The Music Presentational Concert Makes Circuits to Spread String Music

The key of work in Apr. 2004, was to investigate the existing equipment, estimate the budget in the initial stage, present a subsidy plan to the county's education bureau, and estimate and plan place facility. Then, CSEDL held the 2nd preparation meeting, to raise funds for the ensemble, and to arrange the 1st at-school performance .

The 1st circuit concert was through 5 schools, including Da-Cun, Da-Si, She-Tou, Yu-Min, Shi-Pai Elementary Schools. The principals and teachers enthusiastically received the teachers who performed, including Wai Siang-Ying, Lin Yu-Xin, Lu Si-Yin, Yo Wen-Qiong, for they painstakingly went everywhere in the county to perform music for children. The performer-teachers interacted very well with children. When listening, the children did show their enjoyment and admiration for music performance.

In May, 2004, CSEDL held the 2nd circuit concert. It started to compute and analyze the data of participants, hold explanation meetings for students and parents, and draft short-term, mid-term, and long-term, development plans.

Next, CSEDL held the 3rd preparation meeting, to establish the organization constitution of the ensemble, and to realize the teacher quality of the divided groups, and to arrange at-school performance. In Jul. 2004, summer vacation, CSEDL held an enrollment, renovated the ensemble's classroom, confirmed the engagement of external teachers, and investigated how many students had owned instruments, and how many instruments they had to rent from Chen-Yin Instrument Company. Sep.2004, as the semester started, CSEDL held a foundation assembly, starting the training of each school's ensemble.