Kay Fry says her violin students are making the best possible case for "strings in schools."

Seven years ago, she started teaching the "Suzuki method," which allows very young children to learn violin. Now, she says, her first student plays with the Atlanta Youth Orchestra.

The students, drawn from Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Sharpsburg, Jonesboro and other points, presented a string concert Tuesday at Grace Evangelical Church on Flat Creek Trail. A friend teaches with Fry, Geanne Blood, and Linda Jones of Morrow Middle School helps with some of the advanced students, Fry says.

Fry's background includes performing with the Jacksonville, Fla., and Columbia, S.C., symphony orchestras.

Music teachers both within and outside the school system are working to convince education supervisors of the value of string music instruction, Fry says. Her group of 36 students often performs at civic events and business openings.