The Saint Benedict School Orchestra Program is through the Eastern Shores Chamber Orchestra. The program offers private instruction in strings and other orchestral instruments as well as guitar.  Most instruction is for fee and individual, but some group lessons occur as well.

Benefits of Music Education Shown to Include Leadership and Teamwork Skills

“Besides being a sure way to become the life of the party, learning to play an instrument can make children smarter, better adjusted, and better equipped to adopt a position of leadership in a diverse world. Some of the benefits of music education include the development of leadership and teamwork skills.

The idea that music education makes children smarter is a well supported philosophy. Music has a mathematical precision; the rhythms, pitches, and motifs in musical composition can all be expressed with numbers and equations. Maybe that is why the 1993 Standardized Achievement Test (SAT) showed above-average scores in both mathematical and verbal portions of the test by high school students who studied music.

Being smart is important, but it's also critical that children be well adjusted. Children with music education -- especially those in a school setting with other musicians -- develop the key people-skills that are essential to functioning in society, including teamwork, problem solving, and leadership. They gain from the hard work of music mastery, learning self-discipline and self-worth through accomplishments. Studies demonstrate that the students most likely to be elected to class office, achieve the highest grades, or receive honors for academic achievement are the students who study music.

Author; Duane Shin