Once again, Elemental Music was lucky to work with some incredible high school volunteers who met weekly over Zoom with our beginning Prelude students, offering one-on-one mentoring sessions to support what they learned in rehearsal each week.
This mentor program is so impactful - not only because it reinforces the learning that happens in Prelude each week, but also because our mentors were in the same shoes as our Prelude students not so long ago. Providing elementary schoolers the chance to work with high school musicians is not only inspiring - it’s fun!
High school violist Gabriel was one of those mentors and found time between year-end activities and finals to speak with us about the experience of being a Prelude mentor. Check it out below!
Elemental Music: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Gabriel: I am currently a sophomore playing in the Symphony Orchestra at Santa Monica High School. I picked up the viola in the fourth grade at Edison Language Academy and played through John Adams Middle School.
EM: Did you ever participate in any kind of youth orchestra as an elementary student? Do you think it inspired you to keep playing?
G: As a fifth-grader, I participated briefly in a youth orchestra. I specifically remember having my mind blown and so impressed hearing the middle and high school students play after us. Witnessing kids not much older than me achieve such beautiful artistry and play such cool pieces, thoroughly inspired me to keep playing.
EM: Why did you volunteer as an Elemental Music mentor this year?
G: In middle school, and even now as a sophomore in high school, I appreciate the technique, advice, and knowledge I continue to acquire from the more experienced older students. The Elemental Music Mentorship Program has provided me the opportunity to be the “older student,” and to teach mentees what I have learned throughout my seven years of playing. I have found an immense passion for mentoring and teaching. It has brought an extremely gratifying feeling to not only give back and help others but to become that mentor that I have admired.
EM: What is your favorite thing about mentoring a Prelude student?
G: A favorite part of mentoring is seeing their pride in playing better than they thought they could. While I also love seeing their growth in their playing, there is nothing like the look on a student’s face who just played the correct notes that they had been practicing over and over. Or simply the pure joy and excitement to play a famous movie theme song or a song they’ve heard on the radio. Since I can’t just choose a single favorite aspect of mentoring, another favorite thing about this program is how the students inspire me. With every single lesson, I see my younger self reflected in them. That curiosity I felt when I learned left-hand pizzicato, or the motivation to achieve vibrato reminds me of how far I’ve come and how far they will go. It humbles and inspires me to keep pursuing my passion and to go even further.
EM: Do you think that mentoring helped you improve your own musicianship?
G: I’ve heard it said that teaching is the best way to learn. And without a doubt, coaching my mentees has reinforced what I already know, and taught me new things. This privilege of instruction has improved my communication, patience, as well as empathy. This has not only made me a better musician but a better person too.
EM: If you could give one piece of advice to our young musicians, musical or otherwise, what would it be?
G: Persist and hold on to that determination! I remember in elementary and middle school how I often felt discouraged that I couldn’t play pieces at the intended tempo. Or that I was not playing notes correctly, or even dispirited that I was seeing a lack of improvement. However, perseverance, resoluteness, methodical practice, and putting in lots of time and effort leads to excelling at one’s instrument.
EM: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
G: Thank you so much for this incredible opportunity!