Melanin Violin: Shifting the Cultural Landscape of Orchestra
Imani Henry owner of Melanin Violin.
“Music is a universal language and I want to make sure we all can understand it.”
There’s nothing more beautiful than hearing the bright sounds of a violin through your favorite earbuds. While the smooth stroke of the strings can evoke feelings of happiness, the unfortunate dilemma is 9 times out of 10, the musician playing that instrument does not look like you or me. According to the New York Times, Black musicians comprise just 2 percent of the nation’s orchestras.
As a child, the first Black person I watched play the violin, also known as the fiddle, was a character in Roots named Fiddler, brought to life by the incomparable Louis Gossett, Jr. Fiddler was an enslaved, expert violinist who was mean with the bow. The instrument gave him a sense of freedom as it allowed him to “fiddle” his way outside of the fields and into the homes of various plantation owners. But in 2021, we no longer have to use our talents to escape the fields. Our gifts are powerful enough to be a vehicle for social change.
At this very moment, necessary changes are taking place in classical music. Advocates are redefining this area of the arts and Black musicians are becoming the changing faces of string instrumentalists. For example, the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, will be the first all black orchestra to perform at Carnegie Hall in April 2022. Black Violin, the hip hop duo from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is breaking stereotypes by combining rap music and classical music to reach new audiences.
Now entering the scene is educator and violinist Imani Henry, an Inglewood, California, native who is carving her own path to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in orchestra with her company, Melanin Violin. I had a one-on-one conversation with Imani to hear more about her business, learn about the band versus orchestra debate, and discover why representation matters in this space.
Violin: Imani’s One Constant In Life
Imani has been playing the violin since elementary school, starting at the age of 9. When her family moved from Inglewood, a predominantly black community, to Cypress, Texas, at 14 years old, she underwent a culture shock. Cypress is still growing and, at the time, it wasn’t as diverse as it is today. “There weren’t many people that looked like me,” she says.
She quickly had to become accustomed to being the only Black person in the classroom for the majority of her classes. Fortunately, she had her violin and love for music to help her get through. What started out as a leisure activity soon became her source of healing, way of coping, and career of choice.
“When I first started playing the violin, it was a hobby that I picked up. But over time, it became more important to me. When I became a senior in high school, I realized the violin was the one thing that remained consistent in my life.”
As a well-educated Black woman and professional violinist who sits at the teacher’s desk as director of orchestra at a middle school in the Cy-Fair Independent School District, she explains how music plays a role in her well being.
“I enjoy listening to music and playing the violin was always the one constant to help me get through life. Even if I wasn’t playing professionally, I never stopped playing. Music is everything to me. If it wasn’t for that, I’m not sure what I would be doing.”
Photo courtesy of Imani Henry.
Representation Matters In Orchestra
More black-owned businesses are manifesting due to the pandemic and Melanin Violin is one of them. Prior to COVID, Imani was giving violin lessons to children here and there on occasion. Today, she commits to meeting a growing need in her community and is taking the steps to merge two things she loves most -- teaching children and music. “There’s a need for black teachers in Cypress,” proclaims Imani. “I figured, why not be the teacher that can put everything together for students that look like me.”
Imani is well aware of the lack of Black violin players in society, and there’s surely not as many as she’d like to see. It is her hope that she can change this through her efforts as a dedicated violin teacher at Melanin Violin. “Throughout college, I was the only Black person in my orchestra or I’d be one of two people of color. And in professional orchestra, not many of us are there. I want to advocate for kids who want to play string instruments.”
If you ask Imani how she came up with such a strong name for her business, she’ll tell you, “I was trying to think about something that represented me and something that people wouldn’t forget.”
She grew up in, what she describes, a Pro-Black family who has always supported the Black community where they can, be it businesses, organizations, and causes. Little did she know, her family’s influence for expanding economic opportunity by investing in Black businesses helped to shape her business name. “I want to be unapologetic about who I am,” Imani says.
Making Lessons Count At Melanin Violin
Imani provides violin lessons for middle to high school students, no matter their skill level. A child can know nothing about the violin and she will teach them from the ground up. “People think you need to have a skill to get the lesson,” she states. “I’ve taught several students how to start from the beginning, especially in school settings.”
Lessons at Melanin Violin start at $40 per lesson and consist of 30 minute, 45 minute, and 60 minute time slots. Imani is flexible with her delivery and offers virtual and in-person services. She’s even mobile and will travel to you. Imani recommends the best way for students to progress is by practicing each week.
The only item students need is the violin itself, and Imani goes above and beyond to help students get the instrument by working with reasonably priced rental companies. “I always recommend renting versus buying off of any online platform. Rental companies will have a higher quality of instruments.”
Participation in any activity can enhance the quality of life for a child. However, the advantages children gain at Melanin Violin are two-fold. Not only do children learn a lifelong lesson, but Imani also mentions how playing an instrument helps children academically. “People who play instruments do better in school, academically. Playing an instrument, especially string instruments, using both hands in different ways, you’re activating both sides of your brain at the same time, which is not something that your brain normally does, all the time.”
Imani’s Take On The Band Versus Orchestra Debate
Band or orchestra? This is a question music students have been debating for years.
Ask a band student which one is better. Of course, the student will say band. Ask an orchestra student which one is better. No doubt, the student will say orchestra. One may say orchestra is more serious, and band is more fun based on pure speculation. Some people associate orchestra with symphonies and plays, while band is attached to upbeat tunes and dancing.
According to Imani, the ensembles are tied to two different types of music, but they are essentially the same. She stresses the bigger issue with this topic is the fact that orchestra does not get the same level of recognition as band in the music space. “When music groups perform,” she says, “everyone thinks about the band, not the string instruments we see on TV.”
Her goal is to educate people and help shine a light on orchestra to bring it to a new level. She expresses concern for her students and always has meaningful conversations about how one ensemble is not better than the other.
“People get made fun of for playing a string instrument. I have to actively talk to my students about it at school. I constantly have to tell them, no one is against the other, we all play music. I want kids who look like me to see that you can do it too. You don’t have to feel bad or ashamed for wanting to play a string instrument instead of a band instrument.”
Music is the universal language of human existence. It crosses all cultures and barriers and is the one aspect of life that brings people together. With Melanin Violin, Imani will continue to do her part to ensure the music world, specifically orchestra, improves for people that look like her. She also remains hopeful that she’ll see more Black teachers enter this side of the arts.
“I know I'm not going to get every black person to play the violin, and that’s okay. I just want to help be that representation. It matters to me for people to see people who look like me doing positive, impactful things. It’s important for everyone to have someone that looks like them, doing something that matters to them.”
If your child needs a positive outlet or an academic boost, stop by Melanin Violin to book a lesson and experience the difference! Visit www.melaninviolin.com and be social with Melanin Violin on Instagram and TikTok @ Melanin.Violin to get the latest updates and quick video tips!
