UA music program encourages 'at risk' kids to succeed in school

Kristy Mangos Arizona Daily Wildcat Esau Bonilla, a freshman at Ironwood Hills High School, plays his guitar Wednesday at an Area Early Outreach Program Concert held at the UA School of Music. The program teaches local high school students how to play the guitar in exchange for improvement in their grades.

"You have something to do besides being in gangs and drugs," said Esau Bonilla, a freshman at Ironwood Hills High School.

In exchange for half an hour each week of free guitar lessons, the students have to improve their grades at school. Twenty-two students from 21 Tucson Unified School District schools are enrolled in the program.

Philip Hemmo, adjunct instructor at the UA School of Music and coordinator of the Guitar Area Early Outreach Program, said the program targets "at risk" students.

Hemmo said he contacted high school counselors to identify students who were at risk of dropping out of school or could not afford guitar lessons.

"We want to involve the kids through the high schools," Hemmo said. "It's a way for me to be able to give back to the community."

Kenyon Hood, a junior at University High School, said the program makes him work for good grades.

He said he improved from a D to a B in English and plans to go to college and study music. Before he joined the program, he played the electrical guitar.

"I wouldn't have gotten interested in classical (guitar) at all if it weren't for this," he said.

This is the first year the program has worked on a year-long basis, Hemmo said. Previously, it was a summer-only program.

With funds from private donations and the dean of the fine arts office, Hemmo organized a team of six instructors, including himself.

The instructors are UA music seniors that want to acquire practice in teaching the guitar.

"It gives them practical application," Hemmo said.

Guitars were donated to students who did not own their own.

After a few months of practice, eight of the students performed Wednesday night at the UA Holsclaw Recital Hall to an audience of 35 proud parents, siblings and UA faculty.

Ana Bonilla-Moreno, Esau's mother, said her son now plays the guitar with more confidence. The program also made him more dedicated to his grades, she said.

When his time arrived, Bonilla proudly walked across the stage and saluted the audience several times. He then handled the guitar with style, performing his solo of the "Malagueua," a quick-paced Mexican ballad.

Wednesday's concert, which lasted for an hour, was the first of what Hemmo said he hopes to turn into an annual event.