Middle School Music Moves Outside

The Play Street is alive with the sound of music! Grade 8 students have been in the Middle School choral program together since fifth grade, and it was particularly exciting for them to be able to reunite their voices recently and take advantage of the School’s Outdoor Learning Permit that closed nearby streets to traffic and opened them to students and teachers. Previously the class had been singing on Zoom and the winter "concert" was a series of pre-recorded virtual choir videos, so it was a welcome transition.

 

In addition, this is Grade 5 students’ first year together as an elective ensemble. Students have done numerous recordings at home, both for full-class songs and in small-group projects, but they hadn't actually heard their ensemble sound before last week.

 

Previously for all of the Middle and Upper School vocal music classes, students adapted to singing alone in their homes, with just a backing track in their ear. They've had to wait for the editing process to be complete before they could hear themselves singing "together." Last week was wonderful experience to be able to just sing and play in the same space—to be able to feed off of each other's energy and sound without needing to wait or sing alone.

 

Pictured below are Grade 8 students utilizing the Play Street for the choral program.