\”Note\”able Notes

     Another year is coming to a close!  The year went amazingly fast!  We performed our spring concert, Born To Dance, last night to a packed house.  I tried something a little different this year.  First I guess I need to explain a few things about my views and thoughts.  I believe that elementary music classes are really fine arts classes.  Our national and state music education standards mandate the teaching of singing, creating, performing, listening, history (music), and others.  Music class is not just singing anymore!  In order to meet these standards, we have to incorporate lots of things into music. 

     Creating means:  making up movements to music; creating rhythms and melodies; creating musical plays, creating written music; and more.  Performing means:  performing alone and/or with others; performing vocally or instrumentally;  performing musicals or musical plays; acting out songs; and more.  I think you get the idea! 

     I believe that we need to give students a comprehensive musical education–it includes singing, acting, dancing, playing, listening, evaluating, and more.  There are studies that show students who have had a comprehensive musical education score higher on tests in math, reading, and language.   They also show that music students are more organized, self-motivated, and more likely to be involved in extra-curricular activities (sports, speech, etc).

     Concerts need to be an example of what the students have studied and learned.  Concerts are a teaching and a learning tool.  Yes, we want to entertain our audiences.  But, we want to entertain you with what we have studied–whether it be music of the past, dances, instruments we have played, and songs we have sung! 

     We are singing a variety of music–trying to find just the right pieces–for our spring concert.  We have been singing quite a few popular numbers.  It is difficult to sing choir arrangements of pop music.  The reason for this is because the students all know the melody.  They hear this music on CDs, their I-Pods, and TV.  The difficulty comes about when they are asked to sing harmony to this music.  They are learning to sing harmony parts to songs they know the melody to.  It is a great learning experience for them!  They have to concentrate on the notes, and they have to listen to the other parts being sung.  They are amazed when they hear the final product!  We will continue to sing songs in preparation for our concert.

     I think we are ready for contest!  I guess we better be since it is Wednesday, April 1st!  Our songs are quite challenging.  I have set some pretty high goals for both groups.  After all, what is the purpose if I give the choir something to sing that they can perform well after only about two or three rehearsals?  Contest is meant to be a learning experience.  I want the students to learn more techniques, better singing habits, and other new challenges with the music.  Yes, we want to receive superiors, but we also want to learn something.  I want the students to grow musically.   My job is to teach the students how to sing.  If I don’t continually strive for better breathing, better tone, better musical interpretation, better and more difficult literature, the students won’t continue to grow vocally.  If I don’t continue to push them, they will stagnate, and I won’t have done my job.  I have confidence in my students.  I know they will do the best job possible on Wednesday!  By the way, contest is open to the public and we would love to see you there supporting us!