After several months of contemplating moving to Florida, we began researching homes on-line. With family in Ormond Beach, the search was on. However, while looking for schools and activities, I came across the Flagler Youth Orchestra with Jonathan May as its conductor and Cheryl Tristam as its administrator. After several emails to Cheryl and many…
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On the topic of learning to read music and traveling the world, our beloved Jonathan May once said, “You can travel to any country and not be able to speak or understand their spoken language, but start playing with the musicians and everyone understands each other.” What a gift our children have been given here…
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As parents and residents of Palm Coast for more than 23 years, we want you to know how our family has been impacted by FYO. Our oldest daughter Annabel is 12, and has just completed her fourth year with FYO. She has flourished in the program, dedicating hours to practice at home, and this year…
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Who would have thought that even the sound of children tuning their instruments could conjure images of dew soaked fields, its mist stirred only as the sun passes its hand across the not yet cut grass, wild still and untouched except, perhaps by a fawn, brave enough to venture out from the brush and into…
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Tristan started with the FYO in September ’12. While he thought is sounded “cool” to play violin, he didn’t realize the work that went into it. He didn’t make it through the first year, because he just didn’t want to practice. After several talks about commitment, both to his fellow orchestra members and topersonal improvement,…
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Music has helped my daughter overcome being bullied. My daughter first touched a violin in kindergarten. Ms. Cheryl had one at the open house for Wadsworth Elementary. She instantly fell in love with it. She had to wait until 3rd grade to join the FYO. She waited and waited. In the mean time, 2nd grade…
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Over the years, we occasionally hear from students or their parents that the child finds the ensemble music too easy. We hope that this post will help explain why we program the concert music at the level we do and how a student of the FYO should approach the study and practice of the ensemble…
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Here is the information about the accessories needed to be a well-equipped beginner in the Flagler Youth Orchestra. Method Book First, your method book. String Builder, Book 1. Be sure to purchase the version for the instrument your child is playing. Here is a link to the book for violin at Amazon.com, but you can…
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A simple yet hugely helpful way to support the Flagler Youth Orchestra is to donate concessions items to our Suite Shop! Candy bars, small bags of chips, Pop Tarts, crackers, baked goods and flavored canned soda (no caffeine, please) are always needed and appreciated, and can be dropped off in the Green Room. If you…
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When a friend first twisted my arm to let my daughter, Heather, participate in the Flagler Youth Orchestra, all I could think about was the awful sound of a violin being tortured by an inexperienced player. And yes, initially I did cringe a few times, but my appreciation for her improvement began to outweigh any…
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