Christmas!

Merry Christmas, Teachers! We were so excited to get to bring you all gifts and see you all doing great things in your classes and schools! Shannon and I both went to as many programs as we could, and I'd like to share some of the fun and great programs I saw. I wish I could have attended more. If you have video or pictures you'd like to share, please send them our way so we can post them to the blog!

Lisa Bate, Adams Elementary
This is Lisa's first year teaching music. You wouldn't know this was her first time ever teaching music or doing a music program. Lisa really wanted the children to feel the excitement and reward of a performance, and planned carefully so each grade level could perform on the stage. The students ran the show, with a pre-show to keep student engagement as classes were entering, and student led transitions (short songs and performances) while each grade transitioned on and off the stage. I wasn't able to stay for her whole program, but I loved every bit I saw. Lisa's students also added to the singing by using movement, older students holding pictures (symbol or iconic notation, yay) for younger grades, actions and simple costumes, and instrumental accompaniment.

Taylor Elementary, Sarah Hatch
This is also Sarah's first year teaching music. You can tell how much she loves music as you watch these clips from her Christmas program. Sarah brought in a couple a capella songs that really allowed the purity of the children's voices to come through. She also accompanied one of the songs on her guitar. You'll love the song her 6th grade performed, (Once There Was a Snowman, by Voicemail) and you may just want to steal it for next year. They have a tradition of exiting the auditorium dancing and singing the Christmas Conga. Check it out!

Valley View, Gayle Bleak
This was Gayle's first year in charge of a school Christmas program, and she only had three weeks to prepare. She would tell you it was rough because it was the first time for the school following this format (both in song and seating), but it didn't show on the outside. Transitions were very seamless. She brought in a lot of variety and let the students run the show. Gayle thought of having students perform both on the stage and in the center of the circle so everybody could see. She had a student running the ipad to provide the accompaniment, and the narration was entirely student led. Some of the songs were just movement, some involved the whole school joining in on the refrain, and some were accompanied on instruments by the students themselves.

King Elementary, Patty Johnson
Patty did a Christmas around the world theme. The school sang their school song right away, which I loved. I know some of you have been writing school songs for your schools this year. What a great way for the students to feel a part of a school community. The program began with the students all singing one Christmas song together, followed by grade level performances, and a song all together at the end. I wish I could have captured more, but my camera ran out of room. The students really got to shine by announcing their own songs for the program.