A dozen students danced around with paper plates as “;Russian Dance”; from Tchaikovsky's “;Nutcracker Suite”; played in the background.

Ballet masters they are not, but their enthusiasm for the familiar tune was clear as they clapped their plates in rhythm and moved to the beat.

These children, ages 7 to 10, are enrolled in a music program that kicked off in early October as a partnership between the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii and the Hawaii Youth Symphony.

The curriculum, taught by Ruth Komatsu, provides an introduction to music. “;It fit what I love to do,”; Komatsu said. “;I have the freedom to teach music without standards and assessment.”;

In her biweekly classes, students learn about different instruments and start reading music, but Komatsu's approach also incorporates movement and games.

“;She teaches us fun stuff,”; said 9-year-old Grace Leon. “;We are learning to use our body as an instrument with our hands, motions and songs. We don't need anything else.”;

Eight-year-old Vincent Ooi added, “;We learn how to make music with our words. Sometimes we roll a basketball to each other and sing each other's names.”;

Never having played an instrument, Vincent appreciates his new skills, which include some note reading. “;I like the recorder. I practice at home.”;

  “;Learning the basics of general music is key,”; said Jim Gagne, director of operations at the Boys and Girls Club. “;The kids are like little sponges ... they really absorb things.”;

Students from Washington Elementary and four to five other surrounding schools participate. Dozens of children ages 10 and older are also involved in a band program, another new offering, taught by Wayne Fanning. Enrollment in either program is free to those who pay the club membership of $1 annually.

“;It's unfortunate that many schools aren't able to do music programs,”; Gagne said. “;For some kids that's the one thing that pulls them in. Parents were excited to find out about a music program that teaches their kid for only $1 a year.”;

Tanya Middleton's 7-year-old son, Alex, has been with Komatsu's program since its start. “;The price is great,”; she said. But more than that, no prior music experience was required, and the program is holding Alex's interest. “;The lessons are not boring. ... Every day is something new. The teacher always brings something different, and the kids learn from the games.”;

Movement, song, recorder playing, games and more are incorporated into the biweekly lessons. “;It's not important that my son be a musician—I just want to make sure he has a good time,”; Middleton said.

  Komatsu focuses on the life skills that music teaches—teamwork, responsibility, discipline and communication—not formal music study. The best part, she says: Music does not discriminate.

For many of the students, English is a second language. “;With music these kids can excel, since music is not based on knowing the English language,”; she explained. Many come from disadvantaged circumstances and have never touched a musical instrument, Komatsu said. “;They can contribute as equals and that gives them a boost. And the icing on the cake is when the older kids want to continue in the band program.”;

Ethan Cardenes-Tsu, an eighth-grader at Washington Intermediate School, has been studying music for six years and helps prove Komatsu's point. He plays trumpet in the club's band program.

Ethan isn't a typical participant—he plays seven instruments (violin, viola, piano, cello, flute, clarinet and trumpet)—but his experience proves what the other students stand to gain from music training.

It's helped him overcome his shyness, Ethan said, and boosted all his grades. “;It's brought up my grades from a C/D average to a A/B average. The counting relates to math. Reading music teaches you how to read ahead, and there is lots of music history, which relates to social studies.”;

He hopes to major in music and become a high school music teacher.

Henry Miyamura, music director and conductor for the youth symphony, said the Boys and Girls Club partnership is designed to work with kids of all levels and backgrounds.

“;Our partnership with Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii fulfills our mission by reaching out to more youths, many who have never played an instrument in their entire lives, don't know how to read music or may come from disadvantaged circumstances,”; Miyamura said.

The youth symphony provides instruments and instructors for the program. “;Our goal is to expose these children to the endless benefits of music.”;