Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 5, 1995                   TAG: 9509050097
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: ARLINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

RATHER THAN PLAY SALSA, ORCHESTRA TEACHER QUITS

Gretta Sandberg, a 25-year veteran of the Arlington school system, resigned from Wakefield High School in July because, she said, her principal asked her to flavor the orchestra program with more Latin American music to draw more Latino students. She said she was told to do salsa or mariachi music and to cut back on European compositions.

Sandberg, who now teaches orchestra at McLean High in Fairfax, said she has nothing against diversifying a music program. But as a classically trained musician, she said, she does not feel equipped to teach salsa-style or mariachi music.

``I'm willing to try all kinds of things,'' she said, ``but nothing that is going to take the meat out of my course.''

Wakefield Principal Marie Djouadi would not comment on conversations the two women had but denied asking anyone to start a salsa or mariachi band. Her goal, Djouadi said, is to broaden the music curriculum.

But Sandberg insists the directive to ``create a `salsa' group'' in the off-season and ``get music for `salsa,' mariachi strings'' came from Djouadi.

Some Latino students at Wakefield have taken Sandberg's side, saying they are insulted by any notion of creating a band specifically to attract Latinos.

But in the wake of her departure, the school's Latino musicians have discussed whether a salsa band might be a good idea.

Junior Ramiro Rojas, who plays string bass, thinks yes. ``There are a lot of people that I know that love salsa,'' said the 16-year-old Bolivian native. ``I'd like to take a class, if it was available.''

- Associated Press