What do 180 Eagle Ridge Elementary School students and four members of a renowned string quartet have in common?

Strings.

Since its expansion into Eagle Ridge Elementary School in October, the 180 students in grades 3, 4 and 5 have started taking violin lessons. Friday at Eagle Ridge, they got the opportunity to see where their violin could take them.

“The idea is to provide them with an opportunity to see what the final outcome of their enrichment program can be,” YES program director Nicholas Prezioso said.

The YES program was expanded from Oak Hill Middle School and Baldwin High School to Eagle Ridge after the program secured a grant last October. Since Oct. 27, 60 students in grades 3, 4 and 5 have started violin lessons in a venture supported by the program’s association with Georgia College and aided by the Georgia College director of bands, Dr. Todd Shiver.

Students attend weekly lessons with students and professors from GCSU working on bow technique and reading music.

Friday’s energetic program was interactive and was presented by the quartet Kazanetti to the students, who had time during three 40-minute sessions to talk face-to-face with the classically trained musicians.

The YES program offers enrichment and tutoring assistance to students. YES is administered through Georgia College and enjoys a partnership with the college, school system and the Baldwin County Recreation Department.

“The program has launched beyond our expectations,” Prezioso said. “We have parents call us from other elementary schools asking if their children can participate.”

The program is currently full at Eagle Ridge and program officials are anticipating an expansion in its offerings. Prezioso said that one main goal of the program is to maximize interaction time with students and instructors.

“Part of the idea is to keep the ratio small. Right now it is about 10 students to one teacher,” he said. “Hopefully, we will be able to expand.”

An upcoming change to the middle and high school programs will draw the programs at all three levels in line. Instead of meeting Monday through Thursday and Saturday, the high school and middle school programs will soon meet Monday through Friday, just like the elementary program.

Coordinator Richard Hartry said that the biggest advantages to the program have been attested to by the feedback he constantly receives from parents.

“We get so much positive feedback from parents daily,” Hartry said. “They love the progress, not just the academic progress, but behavioral progress and improvement in the attitude of the students. We see a change in their attitudes toward school.”