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Adapted from the South Whidbey Record
January 7, 2004

Island Strings celebrates 30 years of teaching
music to young musicians

By CYNTHIA WOOLBRIGHT

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary for Island Strings, which began in 1974 simply as a partnership between string instructors.

Linda Good moved to Whidbey in 1967 and soon began teaching violin lessons using the Suzuki method. Shortly after, she united with fellow instructors Paula Pugh and Linda Morris. Together, the network of teachers worked with other string instructors to bring violin, cello, viola, piano and guitar lessons to the public schools of South Whidbey.

In 1974, Island Strings consisted of eight violin students learning the Suzuki method. The first cello workshop presented by Island Strings was taught in 1988 by guest instructor Maria DeRungs of Mukilteo.

Island Strings alumni numbers reach into the hundreds, and some former students – including South Whidbey Intermediate School instructor Kimmer Morris – have gone on to be instructors themselves.

“It’s been great to follow some of my students for as long as I have,” Good said. “I love watching children’s progress, see the education for the parents as well and see the wonderful collaboration of it all.”

Island Strings looks forward to hosting a number of events to mark its anniversary. This summer will be the sixth year that South Whidbey youth can attend the Island Strings camp.

“Linda Good and Island Strings are such fixtures in this community,” cellist Siri Sobottka said. “There’re more little string players per capita in this area than anywhere else.”