Play On Greater Olympia: Dedicated Faculty and Students Create Music, Change Lives

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Students play the viola at POGO rehearsal.
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By Gale Hemmann

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POGO brings music education and smiles to many students’ lives.

You could say it started with a vision. Washington Middle School Band Director Greg Allison had a vision of starting Play On Greater Olympia (POGO) two years ago. POGO, an after-school orchestra program, provides a quality music education to students who wouldn’t otherwise have access to it. It’s first social-transformation-through-music program here in Thurston County.

So far, the results have been nothing short of life-changing.

Teaching Life Skills: The Faculty’s Perspective

This ThurstonTalk writer met with Greg Allison, Play On Greater Olympia’s Founder and Executive Director, at Batdorf & Bronson in downtown Olympia to discuss his work with POGO.

Allison has taught for 35 years in the Olympia School District. He says he began playing trumpet in fourth grade, and says he knew by the end of that year that he wanted to be a band director one day. He attended Western Washington University, where he studied trumpet with William D. Cole. Allison enjoys working with middle-schoolers because he feels it’s a good fit and they can especially use positive role models at that age. “And they laugh at my jokes,” he says. He is currently the Washington Middle School Director of Bands and leads the middle school’s student bands as well as POGO. Allison is originally from Tacoma (where he played with the Tacoma Concert Band and the Evergreen Brass Quintet), and commuted from Tacoma to teach before moving here.

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Students play the viola at POGO rehearsal.

The seeds for POGO were planted when Allison and his wife saw a documentary about “El Sistema” about fifteen years ago. POGO is modeled after “El Sistema,” a Venezuelan program that puts music in the hands of students across the country to create personal transformation. This program has been replicated in many communities across the United States. In 2012, Allison traveled to Philadelphia to see the program a former student was teaching at, which was based on the same foundation that POGO would be – “Play On, Philly” (POP), which has served as a model and successful example of the “El Sistema” method. He was excited to bring the idea back to Olympia and into the lives of Washington Middle School students.

After visiting POP twice, Allison officially launched the POGO pilot program in February 2013. The 2013-2014 school year was the group’s first full-year program. Allison says the school’s administration and generous individual donations have been instrumental in POGO’s initial success. Allison enjoys not just the musical aspect of POGO (and music education in general), because learning music teaches kids so many other important skills – perseverance, dedication, and commitment – qualities that will serve them well in the future. As Allison says, “I don’t teach music. I teach life.”

Allison is clearly a believer in the value of the program. He has put countless hours into starting and running POGO, and making it the best it can be. This summer, he and his wife traveled to Santa Rosa, California, where he visited another “El Sistema” program. POGO has also held a summer camp (“Musical Boost Camp”) for kids of all ages for the past two years. Allison is looking forward to leading POGO this school year, and noted a possible collaboration with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Thurston County. He says they are always looking for ways to expand POGO to even more local students in the future. Allison and I discussed the need not just for music education but for it to be accessible to all students. It is clear why Allison has such had such a positive impact on students he’s taught over the years: he is highly dedicated to his work and what music education can offer young people.

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In addition to traditional instruments, POGO also offers a “bucket band,” led by faculty member Jeff Storvik.

Allison is proud of POGO, but is quick to mention that it is definitely a collaborative effort among the many faculty members who make it run. He thanked each of the teaching artists who come to lead an hour of specialized music instruction each day. Jenn Grady teaches cello, Linda Pyle teaches violin, Julie Funchion teaches viola, and Jeff Storvik leads the “Bucket Band.” Katherine Sartori leads the full orchestra. The teachers, like the students, dedicate time after an already-full day to keep the energy of POGO going strong.

Though as Allison and other staff would undoubtedly tell you, equal credit goes to the students, who dedicate their focus and many hours to learning music, and for making POGO what it is.

Changing Lives: A Student’s Perspective

I spoke with the Natalie Tobiason, mother of POGO member Audrey. Audrey will be entering the eighth grade, and just completed her first year in POGO. Tobiason says the impact it has on her daughter’s life has been enormous. In addition to learning the viola in POGO, Audrey has gained a whole new level of confidence and excitement about life. Through a shared love of music, she has met a new group of friends and expanded her social horizons. Tobiason points out the ways it benefits students’ lives are twofold: Audrey has benefitted not just from learning a skill but from gaining transferrable skills that she can use in all areas of her life. One can only imagine, if all of the students feel the same way as Audrey does about POGO (and it sounds like they heartily do), what a positive change it is creating for these youth.

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Students study sheet music. All aspects of music education are covered in the POGO program.

As a member of POGO, Audrey practices two hours a day, five days a week after school. The first hour is spent with students in music-specific instruction with teaching artists, and the second hour is spent playing together, and exploring music theory and practice through group activities. Audrey studies viola with Julie Funchion, with whom she loves working. Natalie Tobiason says that Allison and the entire staff have been “absolutely amazing.” She says the quality of the teaching and positive atmosphere has made a “night and day” difference in her daughter’s life. “It’s all she talks about,” says Natalie.

Accomplishments To Date

So far POGO has played some impressive gigs, performing at the Capitol Theater downtown and the Washington State Capitol Building, for the Thurston County Commissioners, and at the Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia concerts. They have also performed at senior centers, community events, and at their school.

But it is by far the reward of growth and inner excellence in the students is the biggest reward, both faculty and parents say.

You can read this past ThurstonTalk article by Natasha Ashenhurst which features information about POGO and the positive power of music education in young people’s development.

As I reflected on the many accomplishments of the POGO program, I thought back to my own middle school years and the arts programs I was involved with. Middle school is a time of transformation, and there can be challenges on the path to growth. Programs like POGO ensure that students such as Audrey have access to positive, meaningful opportunities to build a self-esteem-affirming skill and be in such a positive environment. I hope POGO is around for many years, enriching lives of local students.

How Can I Support POGO?

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Middle school students in POGO’s orchestra program play the cello. Students can choose among viola, cello and violin.

This organization relies on community support to keep going, along with some grants. POGO is a part of the nonprofit organization Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO). POGO donations go to scholarships for the students so they can participate in the program. They always welcome financial donations from the community, as well as orchestral instruments (violins, violas and cellos) in good shape.

POGO would like to thank RL Ray Violin Shop for their extremely generous support in providing instruments to the students. They also would like to give a special thanks to Capital Heating and Cooling and the Washington Middle School Boosters, as well as all of their individual and business sponsors. Allison is also grateful for the Advisory Board members and all those who volunteer their time to support POGO’s work.

Both faculty and students like Audrey Tobiason will thank you for helping keep POGO kids “playing on.”

You can also keep an eye out for their upcoming concerts around town, such as the upcoming November 19 concert at the Women’s Club of Olympia.  The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and is expected to last for two hours.

For more information about Play On Greater Olympia and event dates, check out their Facebook page.

 

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