This is something involving myself, my daughter Natalya and now eight or nine other families. I guess I should start by saying I'm telling you this because good things can come from a statement made from a young child. I better start at the beginning because I know I'm not

making much sense with that statement.

My daughter Natalya started playing the violin at just 5 years of age. Nothing unusual about that. She had a wonderful teacher who we were all very fond of. Olga lived along way from us, but they had a special bond, so every saturday one of us would drive 50 minutes with Natalya for her lesson. We live in a place called Gidgegannup and Olga lived in Doubleview.  Like many other young children learning intruments mostly they just get to show their new learned skill to Mum and Dad and the teacher of coarse. Unless your child attends a private school the opportunity at primary school to play in a band or ensemble or orchestra doesn't really present itself.

This was the case with Natalya at 10 year of age and in the year 2005. One day her teacher said there is somethink coming up in the holidays that I think would be very good for Natalya to do. It was a long way from where we lived but I am always prepared to travel since we live a long way from anywhere, anyway. It was a one off program where from memory 25 children from 8-12 years of age from all over perth came together. They went to a school up near fremantle and learnt what it was like to  play as part of an orchestra. They practiced 3 times the first week of the holidays. Then they performed in the a public place in the middle of Fremantle.  Then at the park at the rear of the Hotel called the Fisherman's something? can't remember the exact name. And then the grand finale for them was a Sunday night's performance at the Fly By Nightclub where people, mostly the childrens families (but was open to the public) came and bought tickets to this perfomance. It was just great and a totally new experience for all the children who took part. The group who organized this event were just amazing, they'red called the string beans. Sarted by a group of parents who themselves were string musicians. They had even had a peice of music commissioned which was written specifically for this event. The peice of music was called KEKAK. Natalya was quite neverous and ecited about the whole thing. She had a ball and learned for the firrst time just what it was like to play music for more than just herself and with others.

Then came the statement; "That was awesome mum, I want to play in an orchestra , please it was so much fun. " So I thought about it for oh maybe one second and said yeh sure. We'll find one for you to join close to home. Close to home, sure. That's when I discovered apart from the string beans ( too far away) there wasn't any. Not for 10 year olds anyway. So me being me and not knowing a thing about music. Said oh well we'll just start one. I put notices in local school newsletters, calling for any children who played violin or cello who would like to join an orchestra to contact me. I took phone calls from interested Mums on behalf of their children.

Then came the call I really needed a Violin teacher named Kiralee. She had a few students who would be interested and would also be interested. So I organized a meeting of parents and children who had shown interest in the idea. My idea and that of someone who really knows about music were really different mainly cause I know not much about music. Luckily for all of us Kiralee was very interested in getting an ensemble (not enough for an orchestra) off the ground. I still help in organizing events an such, but we are so lucky that Kiralee saw the benefit of this to get it off the ground. So it was in around June of 2006 that this new venture started. The children came to Kiralee's house and learned how to play music in an ensemble, something that was new to them all. This was for 1 hour on a saturday morning once a week. In september of that year at the Swan view show they performed for the first time. I stood proudly watching and I shed a few tears of joy.

Three year on and we're going on strong. We now have two groups going. The younger ones practice on a saturday morning. We have 6 older children ( high school age) who practice on thursday evenings. The younger ones together with the 6 older children are known as The Hills Youth String Ensemble. And the other 6 are the  Sextet last year it was the Quartet but two more of the younger kids moved up. They have performed publicly on lots of occasions, usually it's for community events. They have a large Spring concert each year at the Quatras Sasions Rose Gardens in Darlington, this has been held in each of  the two years since 2006, their beginning.  This is when the group gets funds to buy more music scores to play, last year about 80 people bought tickect to see these fantastic ( I am bias) children perform.

Last year in December I organized a bus and the group of 12 went on tour to 4 nursing homes bringing with them christmas cheer to these residents. They played Carols and had a great day. These children come from different schools, yet they all have one thing in common, MUSIC.

The fact that this group has the opportunity to play together comes down to lots of things. Parent willingness to commit to this fantastic community group. A wonderful music director that puts in so much effort for these children. The children themselves who practice to put together such wonderful perfomances. And in the beginning a simple sentance said because of a one off opportunity. It just goes to prove that we should listen to what our children want. If I hadden't listen to mine perhaps this group might not be.......Who knows, but I am glad I listened and acted on what my ten year old had to say.  If your child asks to do somethink that would be a worthwhile thing to do and there seem to be no opportunity to do it, I think and this of course is my own oppinion we should do our best to create that opportunity for them.

After all that's part of a parents job isn't it?