ABS Thursday Notes - May 2, 2024

Published for the Arts Based School Community

May 2, 2024

How We Do It and Why

By Mary Siebert

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.” – Albert Einstein

Einstein was an accomplished amateur musician. His regular violin practice fed that famous brain, and it does the same for our students. Studies prove that learning to play a musical instrument helps develop neural pathways in the brain, but there are other benefits: the pleasures of creating harmony together, of self-expression, of sensing sound with the body, of connecting to culture. 

In ABS at 5th and 6th grades, band is a requirement, not an elective. We believe that every student should have the opportunity to learn to play an instrument, to paint, to act in a play, to sing and dance. They may or may not choose to continue these activities in high school, but they will have had an introduction to inform that choice. They will also be more informed and appreciative supporters of the arts.

Teaching twenty children at once how to play five or more loud instruments is not a job for the faint of heart. Each instrument requires unique assembly, hand position, fingering, posture, application of breath, and mouth position. They even read notes differently. Somehow, they must sound together as one ensemble. Each child with a broken reed or stuck mouthpiece requires immediate and individual attention, which means the others must wait quietly, which is hard for kids with instruments to do. It’s not like teaching writing. They’re loud! You can’t circle the room and peacefully speak with each student as others continue working as with reading, writing, or art. They can’t practice during study hall, as they can study math. Their mistakes are public, and corrections are necessarily made in that same forum. And unlike other subjects, all of these beginners must play at the same moment, with relative accuracy. To corral these challenges, we finally launched a new plan this year, previously derailed by Covid:

5th Grade. Each entire class of students at 5th grade learns the same instrument simultaneously, in a “homogeneous” band class. Students are introduced to flute, trumpet, and clarinet using school-owned instruments. They rotate each trimester to try all three over the course of the school year. In this way, the teacher will be able to address the challenges and delights of playing that one instrument without stopping to work out problems with other players. These instruments are not sent home. When the year is over, students have a good idea of what they would prefer to play in 6th grade: a reed instrument, brass, flute, or percussion.

5th graders also do some world music drumming and singing, keeping them moving and constantly engaged, with a wide variety of opportunities for musical development.

6th Grade. 6th graders bring their own instrument to band. Families are expected to rent, purchase, or borrow an instrument independently. Choices include: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, or percussion. At 6th grade, band is mixed (or heterogenous) in each class, with all three classes united for concerts and demonstrations. Students are expected to practice at home. Instruments will be provided for families who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Watch for more information from Mr. Reichmeier through your classroom teacher, about instrument rentals and supplies needed for music class.

7th and 8th Grades. 7th and 8th graders work with a combination of music tech, composition, basic keyboard skills, and singing for their large-scale productions. Students who wish to continue in band will be invited to attend traditional after-school band rehearsals, to help prepare them for state competitions and for high school band. 

The most valuable tool for steady progress on an instrument is unquestionably daily practice. Students who practice at home, even 15 minutes every day, progress much more rapidly and with more confidence than others, leading to greater enjoyment. In encouraging daily practice, parents are helping kids learn that a little commitment goes a long way, and they are boosting brain development, too.

6th Grade Band Informances 

6th graders will perform next week in an informal, informational concert for their families. The demonstrations will take place in the 7th Street music room as follows:

DeJarnette families: Wednesday, May 8, 12:30-1:15

Visconti families: Thursday, May 9, 12:30-1:15

Christian families: Friday, May 10, 12:30-1:15

Memories for Mary Siebert

We are collecting stories and well wishes to share with Mary at her retirement party.  If you have a story, anecdote, or memory about Mary Siebert that makes you laugh, smile, or feel happiness, please share here.  If you have photos you’d like to share, please add here.

The Mary Siebert Legacy Fund

To honor Mary Siebert’s outstanding legacy, her friends are collecting gifts large and small to ensure that Mary’s influence will be felt for years to come in the place where she dedicated so much of herself. All gifts made to the Mary Siebert Legacy Fund will support the resident artist program that bring learning to life at ABS. For more details and to make a gift, please visit this page. 

Kindergarten Tap Dancing

Kinders are well into their tap units at both campuses and having a blast. A huge THANK YOU to all the families who scouted, donated, or purchased tap shoes for our kindergarten classes, we wouldn’t be tappin’ without you! With your help, we have been able to outfit every student with a pair of tap shoes to wear during dance class. Donated shoes will bring the joy of tap for years to come for our kindergartners every school year!  

ABS Builders Club Spirit Week- May 6-10

Grades 5-8 only