Schools

Siwanoy School's Improved Music Program Reflected at Holiday Concert

An additional chorus director, team teaching and extra practices enabled fourth and fifth graders to perform more complex musical arrangements Thursday

Thanks to team teaching and early morning practices, the Siwanoy School's band, orchestra and chorus performed their most complex numbers yet, at the Winter Concert on Thursday.

Prior to this year, the fourth and fifth grade band and orchestra practiced just once every six days during their lesson groups, and the chorus was taught by only one director. This year, however, Siwanoy's music programs got a number of upgrades to help students advance their technique. The orchestra and band now meet an additional morning every week, a half hour before school starts. The chorus gained a second director in class, allowing the students to simultaneously learn from an accompanist and conductor.

"The kids are better," remarked Principal Susan Gilbert of how the enhancements have shaped the students' skills. "They're realizing early on that it's a commitment and that there are rewards."

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The additional instruction and attention were reflected in the complicated music the students performed at the annual Winter Concert for friends, family and faculty on Thursday morning. In the past, the orchestra, for example, just showcased a musical canon where everyone played the same piece, but it was staggered to create harmony.

"They all just learned one thing," remarked orchestra director, Marcia Bean.

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But, because students clocked in extra practicing time this year, they were able to each—independently—learn different parts. "Evening Calm" and "Up on the Housetop" were two of the six pieces the fourth and fifth grade orchestra performed on Thursday.

The early morning rehearsals and the at-home practicing benefitted the fifth grade band too. During past concerts, the members just played what they learned in their lesson groups, pieces that were often just eight bars long.

"This group has come a long way from last year," remarked Nate Brickman, band director for fifth graders. "I've been really amazed with the amount of work that they've put in."

The band performed Robert Shelton's "Continental Divide" and John O'Reilly's "It's Holiday Time."

The chorus made some significant progress too. Now that it has two teachers on hand, the students have been able to learn more complex music and harmonies.

"It allows us to do some music that's a little more intricate and challenging," noted chorus director, Eric Katz. "Usually, I'm trying to conduct with my head while playing the piano. We're doing it in a little more of a professional way."

The fourth and fifth grade chorus performed four songs, which included Mamas and Papas cover, "California Dreamin."

At a time when many schools are cutting back on music programming, the faculty here appreciates that it needs to continue to expand the arts opportunities.

"It really uses your whole brain," Bean noted of how music challenges students. "You're playing the instrument, you're reading the music, you're listening to the group--you're coordinating with all of that. It's good for the brain."


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