There’s an old saying that when you create an orchestra you are building better citizens for the community. In RSU 14, music educators believe that when students play music, it allows a part of their artistic mind to express itself, key to helping provide balance to students intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.
 |
| Windham Middle School's Eighth Grade Orchestra rehearses a musical composition while preparing for its upcoming annual Spring Concerts with student musicians from Manchester School at Windham High School's Performing Arts Center. PHOTO BY MORGAN RILEY |
According to Morgan Riley, WMS Band, Orchestra and Music teacher, this year’s concert will be a combined effort with fifth- through eighth-grade students performing so that students and parents from younger grade levels can be recognized for the dedication that all student-musicians put in throughout the years.
“They like sharing all the hard work they've put into perfecting the concert songs,” Riley said. “It's great to see so much support for student-musicians. Sometimes their whole extended families attend to hear the students.”
Riley says that in school music classes, the option of playing a musical instrument becomes available as early as in fifth grade at Manchester School. To showcase the student-musicians work before they enter high school courses, RSU 14 offers spring concerts to showcase student knowledge, talent and the musical skills that they learned over the course of one school year.
Granted the students in older grade levels have more years of experience and perform at a greater level, but Riley said all of the grade levels team up to collaborate and perform on the final song of this year’s concert.
Music teachers at WMS and Manchester School have been having students rehearse for this concert since January. During the rehearsals, students learn the music selections and prepare to give the best possible performances.
“We play for part of the class individually, but most of the class plays together as an ensemble,” Riley said. “In every class we move forward on our concert music and Method Book, where students learn new notes, rhythms, scales and musical markings.”
Among selections to be performed for this year’s concert are "Banana Boat Song," a Jamaican folk song made famous by Harry Bellafonte in the movie "Beetlejuice," two spring-themed songs called "Spring" by Randall Standridge, and "After the Rain" by Matt Neufeld, which is a song with audience participation.
The student-musicians will also perform "Handclap," a pop song made famous by Fitz and the Tantrums, and WMS eighth graders will perform "Blinding Lights," a popular song originally performed by The Weeknd.
The WMS Sixth Grade Orchestra will perform songs ranging from the Beethoven tune, "Ode to Joy," to an exciting piece by Richard Meyer called "Dragonhunter."
Riley says that the older WMS orchestra students will perform an upbeat song by Soon Hee Newbold called "Storm," and they will also perform a beautiful slow piece that stretches their ability to play differing dynamics called “Colorful Sunrise” by Jukiko Nishimura, as well as Lady Gaga's hit "Poker Face." The WMS Eighth Grade Orchestra will present the theme song from the Disney Movie "Beauty and the Beast" during the concerts.
“I like making audio recordings of the ensembles and playing them back to the students,” Riley said. “They listen critically for things they are doing well and what we need to improve, and we work on those things. That self-assessment skill is essential for musicians. In the end, they always improve and feel proud of their accomplishments.”
She said that the middle school students are excited to perform with their younger counterparts from Manchester School and encouraging and inspiring the next generation of musicians in the school district.
“Young people often look up to older people due to the accumulated wisdom, life experiences, and established social roles that older individuals possess, offering guidance and perspective,” Riley said. “The magic of music can bring a community together and spark untold passions.”
The WMS/Manchester Spring Band Concert will be held on Tuesday, May 20 and the WMS/Manchester Spring Orchestra Concert is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 with both concerts beginning at 6:30 p.m. each night in the Windham High School Performing Arts Center. <
No comments:
Post a Comment