SPANISH FORT, Ala. — Juan José Gutiérrez travels to Baldwin County every Wednesday to teach a strings class to 25 students at Rockwell Elementary.

He greets the students and instructs them to remove their violins and bows from their cases, and to place their violins against their chins to start a gentle warm-up.

Rather than receive private music lessons, these fourth graders are learning about music during school hours. Gutiérrez holds a doctorate of music in string performances, graduated from Florida State University in 2006 and plays the cello.

“I like very much the contact with children — I like their energy, which is pure and positive,” he said one particular afternoon.

The pilot program, initiated by the Mobile Symphony and other sponsors, is currently active at Rockwell Elementary and is the first in the county, Principal Robert Owens said.

Students can attend weekly music instruction in preludes, a class for first and second graders, or a string class, which is for third through fifth graders.

“I wanted something to do in my spare time. I just like to play the violin,” student Nicole Nobles said.

Student Ryan Schwab said his aunt used to play the violin, which is why he decided to pick up the wooden instrument.

“I thought it would be cool,” he said.

The symphony’s partnership with participating area schools began nine years ago, according to Sarah Wright, education director of the Mobile Symphony.

“Rockwell Elementary was the first to bring the program to Baldwin County schools,” Owens said.

The program began at Rockwell Elementary seven years ago and still entices children to learn about music and be introduced to music.

“Now, it is an established fact that active participation in music does help students in academic achievement,” Wright said.

She said it helps brain function and the ability to stay on task.

Student Morgan Watts said she was warned by some people that taking violin lessons wouldn’t be fun, but she enjoys it.

“In this school, the children are good,” Gutiérrez said.

He jokingly tells parents that the kids are like college students — but good college students, he said, as the children are well behaved.

“The kids are interested in music and doing what they like every week,” he said.

Students have to practice often and apply self discipline they learn in music instruction to other subjects, Wright said. In some previous periods, school systems art was not funded at a very high level, according to Wright.

“Just like students who have an innate gift in math or science, music students need to reach those talents,” she said. “They deserve the opportunity to have a balance and that includes the arts.”

There is a small cost for parents who have children taking violin lessons, which includes buying or renting the instrument.

“The cost for the parents is a minimal cost considering what they are getting,” Owen said.

While there is typically a lot of emphasis on academics and sports, Owen feels that the arts are equally important. Some kids may not be as financially fortunate and may never get this opportunity, he said.

“My philosophy is to provide a well rounded education and opportunities for all children to be exposed to a variety of things. Secondly, I want for all children to be given an opportunity to find an area where they excel,” Owen said.

Many parents have expressed appreciation that a music program during school hours is offered, Wright said.

“A lot of parents just like for their child to have the experience,” Wright said. In the sixth grade, students may want to make a commitment to go after school to take music lessons. There is an afternoon string enrichment in Baldwin County that meets once a week in Daphne and Mobile String Academy in Mobile.

“This helps them prepare to audition for the Mobile Symphony Youth Orchestra,” she said. “You never know where you talents lie and this is a way to find that out. We are very grateful to our partner schools because they made it happen.”

It is a real partnership and they have provided time, organization and space for symphony musicians, she said.

With more area schools interested in the partnership, Mobile Symphony hopes to find teachers and funding to make it happen, she said.

“We have gotten 14 schools and are hoping to expand next year by adding four to five more schools next year,” she said.

Wright stressed that a lot of school systems in other parts of the country already have strings programs in public schools.

“It is important, not only for the individual child, but so that all children in schools are familiar with string instruments or orchestral music,” she said. The strings class is available to give violin, viola and cello instruction and is offered at Rockwell Elementary, Fairhope Elementary and Christ the King schools, in addition to some Mobile County schools.

The program averages about 175 students a year. Since its inception, approximately 2,000 third through fifth grade students have received music education. More than 10,000 students a year receive some music education through the Mobile Symphony, Wright said, by offering concerts, for example.

Students can also take music as an elective class, Wright said. The program is sponsored though the National Endowment of the Arts, The Alabama State Council on the Arts and through local private corporations and foundations that support music education.

Mobile Symphony also has two partners that can help measure students for the right size instrument, Jubilee Music in Fairhope and Andy’s Music in Mobile.

For more information about the Mobile Symphony education programs, contact Sarah Wright at sarah@mobilesymphony.org or 251-432-2064.