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In June, we are excited to be doing some folk dancing, something fun for everyone! No prior exerience is needed! All you need is a willing attitude and spirit and "beginner's mind", meaning a willingness to not be perfect on the first 10-20 tries!
This COVID school year, teaching in cohorts, and the ensuing challenges it brings, we have been singing masked and moving our bodies when we can. It is of course a challenge to learn from (and teach to) zoom, but it is especially important if you are in the cohort at home, to tune in to music! Since September, I have been “on the cart” – a music teacher’s term for going from classroom to classroom -- but I’m dreaming of a music classroom in the fall!
Kindergarteners have started to prepare for their (two separate) graduation ceremonies. Their songs are in google classroom, so please use them to practice!
Spring is in the air! And we are singing songs to celebrate it! One of my favorites is one that has a verse for every season, “Mother Earth’s Routine”.
The upper grades (5-8) have benefitted from a marvelous, condensed version of Pirates of Penzance or the Slave of Duty. This is a show from the canon of Gilbert and Sullivan, a lyricist and composer who wrote operetta in the 1800s whose shows are still popular and entertaining today. They wrote a staggering 14 shows! The show that these grades has seen was produced by Opera Theater of St. Louis. OTSL’s commitment to education is very impressive. Our seventh grade even got to have a zoom chat with one of the stars of the show! We found out a lot about Ben Taylor, baritone, who played the Pirate King. He loved heavy metal and skateboarding, went to Rome, and decided to become an opera singer! The link to the show is in Google Classroom, and I believe it is still available until sometime in June.
And now, in May we will be able to view a concert produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center called “Let Freedom Swing: New Orleans Dreams”, which explores the musical traditions and figures of the birthplace of jazz. It’s such a privilege to share these productions done by such esteemed artists.
Happy Earth Day! Please consider your actions and how they affect your ecological footprint on the earth. Eliminate or reduce your use of plastic. No plastic water bottles!! Notice how much natural (and produced) resources you use, and if possible, try to reduce that amount. Support companies who do likewise.
We have been singing Tom Chapin’s round “This Pretty Planet” which is both universal and timely. (It is challenging to sing a round in small groups and on zoom!!)
Here he is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFAWWAUrHEg
Here are the lyrics to This Pretty Planet by John Forster & Tom Chapin
This pretty planet spinning through space,
You're a garden, you're a harbor, you're a holy place,
Golden sun going down, gentle blue giant, spin us around.
All through the night, safe 'til the morning light.
Spring Show Hiatus – last year (2019-2020), our spring show theme was “May Day for the Planet”. Well, we know what happened to that! Ditto for 2021. But I am hopeful that we can do it for 2022!