Annals to the development of a string program for San Marcos

Christopher T. F. Hanson, Executive Director

"A number of individuals and establishments have fought with valiant effort to establish a string education program readily available to the public since its dissolution in the late 1950s.

I have had the pleasure of living in the shadow of these individuals and establishments and have also enjoyed the opportunity to work for and with them in their combined and individual efforts. Chiefly among these are Prof. Howard Hudiburg with the Texas State University School of Music, Mrs. Deanna Badgett with the Hill Country Suzuki Institute and Dr. Lynn Ledbetter with the American String Teachers Association.

Prof. Howard Hudiburg is currently the director of String programs of Texas State University as well as the Conductor of orchestral activities. A position he has held for over twenty years. Mr. Hudiburg has begun many efforts to place string programs into the schools of San Marcos, all of which unfortunately have lacked the support necessary to become a permanent part of the fine arts curriculum available in the district. Whether through after school orchestral programs in the early nineties or his efforts to establish a “string project” for the University through the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) in 2001, His efforts have exposed the hinges of support that have failed to support the awesome weight and responsibility of a public orchestral string program. His work of course is not without success; as the founder of the Texas State Strings Camp Mr. Hudiburg has solidified a place for his work in string education to be felt for this and many generations to come in the city of San Marcos.

The continued efforts of Mrs. Deanna Badgett through the Hill Country Suzuki Organization are probably the most public and recent efforts to establish a public string education system in the eyes and ears of the San Marcos public. Mrs. Badgett’s efforts have led most recently to the “early strings” program available at Crockett elementary as well as her thriving Suzuki studio which has produced students from the elementary school level all the way to the high school level and beyond. It is quite easily said that the passion and commitment that is felt and needed to establish orchestral string programs in SMCISD is fueled by Deanna Badgett’s continued efforts and support to those still fighting for the opportunities deserved by every child. Deanna Badgett is an outspoken supporter of public string education and in a recent article entitled “Suzuki in Schools” by Jeff Walker in the September 13, 2008 issue of the San Marcos Daily Record; Badgett stated “It’s only through the public schools that you can make this type of music education available to anyone.”

“This type of education” is a reference to the value of public music education experienced by Mrs. Badgett and any other former student of a public school music ensemble whose life has ultimately been affected. Free of the wavering costs of private lessons and instrument rentals, the public school music program affords a musical education to any interested individual and its value is only measured through its effect on a greater population of participants and the legacy of music appreciation, performance and preservation that it instills.

Lastly in this very brief historical outline of the individuals responsible for the development of this proposed program is Dr. Lynn Ledbetter. As one of her many students I can speak passionately and personally of her commitment and support to any individual who studies a string instrument. She has proven beneficial to the above mentioned efforts in more ways than one. As a quite supporter, she has orchestrated large scale efforts and invested countless efforts into the organization and execution of private and public educational endeavors for string instrumentalists. As the president-elect for the Texas chapter of ASTA she has worked to spread the many resources made available to string teachers and students. One such resource is the grant made available through the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) which was structured to support after school music programs that are designed to infiltrate public schools. It is the aspiration of Dr. Ledbetter as well as many more supporters that this grant be afforded to the SMART Orchestra and be utilized to establish a string program for the SMCISD.

It is therefore my self-proclaimed mission to continue and resolve these many efforts in the culmination of a string program that will live in their legacy and affect the city’s population for many successful years to come."