Jessie and Lindsay Rogers, twin sisters and Mt. Rainier High graduates, were strumming guitars at Beach Park one recent sunny day.

Thirty-five kids, ages 9-12, willingly went to Parkside Elementary School one hour early to practice playing string instruments.

Connection? The Love of Music.

Jessie and Lindsay say music came to them naturally from their father, a professional acoustic guitar and bass artist, who in his earlier days traveled from city to town playing in a band.

String instruments are high priority in the Rogers' household, just as they are in Dan and Barbara McMichaels' Des Moines home where 8-year old son Henry plays the piano and harp, and daughter Clara, 11, plays cello, harp and French horn.

As Parkside PTA music leader, Barbara writes, "Parkside Elementary is the southernmost school in the Highline District. A year and half ago we started up the Parkside Orchestra with a group of string instruments left over from a former grant."

Parkside PTA gave seed money to pay instructor Debra Ladenburg, a talented gold medal violinist with the Seattle Symphony.

With this start in 2006, the orchestra program now operates on a $3,000 annual budget supported by a small grant and donations from foundations such as Des Moines Rotary, Fred Meyer, Highline Schools Foundation for Excellence and instruments from long-time musical retailer Hammond-Ashley.

On May 23, the kid's Parkside Orchestra performed at the Highline School Board's regular meeting, hoping to gain support for reinstatement of a string instrument programs in all Highline schools.

These kids know the rules of showmanship: "Wait for the conductor to raise their arms before tucking instrument under your chin and all stand to bow together at the end."

They take pride in looking professional.

Music is a universal language and this group is made up of a fine mix of ethnic representation that plays music from Tchaikovsky to John Williams' famous movie themes, and they make the strings sing.

In the 1970s, Highline schools taught string music. But in the 1980s the district cut back and all instruments were sold. Today, parents and supporters want the programs restored.

"The school district needs to know this community is proud of its young musicians, and that music should be an essential part of the school curriculum," Barbara added.

Supporters have set a goal to persuade the school board to consider restoring this string instruments program. Much thanks goes to Parkside Principal, Robin Lamoureux, who believes in these kids, and to the Highline School District for their support.

If you agree in restoring the string instruments program write a letter to Superintendent, John Welch or email superintendent@hsd401.org.

What do the talented, young adult guitar-playing twins Jessie and Lindsey Rogers have in common with 35 elementary school kids?

Although they have never met, if there's anything that makes the world go around (in the right direction) it's music.

It's refreshing knowing these kids have higher music standards than some of the so-called music I hear blasting from car radios with trashy four-letter words that disrespect the human race-including their mothers.

Sometimes I think a little "Judge Judy" justice on noise ordinance enforcement might be a dandy idea!

Music is uplifting and just hearing young folks reach out to music that has outlasted many far-out musical fads is rewarding.

And who knows? Fame may be waiting in the wings for Jessie and Lindsay Rogers with a summer recording release of their specialty-original "soft blues" trademark songs.

Lindsay writes the music and Jessie creates the lyrics.

"It's as if we were born one person in music. It's our life," they say.

Jessie and Lindsay's mellow voices blend in a soft blanket of musical harmony that seems to curl around one's thoughts - and capture the moment. Meantime they continue their education and work to pay the bills.

Bothell almost had their American Idol. When string bands and guitar singers compete, can Des Moines be far behind?

Poet Robert Frost wrote, "A poem begins in delight and ends in wisdom." The universal language of music does the same-and leaves a smile to boot.