Over the past week, Margaret Chase Smith Elementary held its concert series, with performances by students in grades K-4. The performances culminated with the 4th grade concert on Thursday, May 30th, also serving as the 4th grade promotion ceremony.
Each grade performed a repertoire of songs they had been practicing, displaying the musical skills they had developed over the year.
The music selections were carefully chosen by music teacher Heather Hastings to be both fun and educational.
"I listen to and evaluate lots of songs in early and mid-February and choose the final list of contenders by the time vacation rolls around," Hastings said. "While I do look for 'fun and catchy,' I also seek out songs that support current learning and are developmentally appropriate for students."
In addition to singing, the concerts showcased other musical skills the students have been developing. Pieces like "Follow My Rhythms" demonstrated their growing rhythm literacy, with more complex rhythms for older grades.
Other performances incorporated movement to visually represent the music or warmups that highlighted skills like ensemble listening.
A highlight was the 4th grade chorus performance of a song they voted on themselves. The song was a culminating musical experience before their promotion to middle school.
The concerts did not just exhibit performance skills, but provided a window into the well-rounded music curriculum at MCS.
"Our performances are only a small window into what happens in the music classroom daily," Hastings said. "I'm always looking for ways to better showcase all that we learn and do."
The promotion ceremony following the 4th grade concert celebrated the students' accomplishments over their elementary years. An end-of-year video highlighted memories; students were recognized for their achievements and participation.