West Lake Middle School Orchestra

 Jonathan Roane & Mario Garcia, Directors

Established in 2018, the West Lake Orchestra program

includes nearly 160 students in three performing orchestras.

Email at: jonathan.roane@humbleisd.net or mariogarcia@humbleisd.net

Why Orchestra?

1. Orchestras provide children opportunities to express themselves, interact, and build people skills such as collaboration and communication.

2. Studies show that learning music can improve cognitive skills, physical development, and emotional well-being.

3. Stringed instruments are found in nearly every culture and country around the world. Many musical styles feature stringed instruments including jazz, country, pop, mariachi, church music, and folk.

4. Research shows that music students have increased memory capabilities because of individual and group rehearsal. These skills transfer to other subjects, too.

5. Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, and pursue further education.  Additionally, research shows that students who choose to take music courses in high school instead of taking honors and other classes, were still accepted into college.

6. Colleges and universities need string players for their orchestras and may offer scholarships to string students regardless of their academic major.

7. Research shows that learning to play an instrument can lead to higher measures of attention to detail, openness, and ambition. These effects were more noticeable for students in lower socio-economic status households.