Music in the Time of COVID-19
/
Like many aspects of school programming, Breakwater Music Essentialist, Stephanie Davis, has had to make several teaching and curriculum adjustments during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although there have certainly been many challenges, the pandemic has also offered opportunities to creatively incorporate technology into music curriculum and take advantage of the outdoors during warmer months. During the early days of the school year, Stephanie could often times be seen teaching classes outside with a variety of percussion instruments including hand drums, bucket drums, musical shakers, and Boom Whackers. In the fall, Stephanie notes that she enjoyed “getting a groove together on the bucket drums and watching other classes dance while they're outside having snack or a recess break. Being outside makes us more visible (and audible) so it's like we have an audience all the time! Pretty cool for a bunch of young musicians!”
Now that music has been inside during the colder months, Stephanie’s classes have been able to utilize technology to record students singing separately before looping and layering together, create short films using green screens, and utilize recording devices. Stephanie has set up a mini recording studio outside of her office which has allowed students “the opportunity to see how a small, mobile recording studio works.” One such project that has incorporated music and technology was the 5th and 6th graders recording of a four part percussion piece of the Indiana Jones theme song! After learning the percussion piece, Stephanie had the students record a short video using a green screen, Shaun's truck, and the rope swing in the Dan in order to create their very own Indiana Jones short! Incorporating music and technology fit seamlessly into the Breakwater curriculum and has allowed kids a chance to learn something they might not have gotten the chance to otherwise.
Perhaps one of the biggest changes with music this school year is the lack of group performances and live multigrade musical showcases. During a typical winter music concert, the Dan is filled with friends, families, and teachers listening to the singing and instrumental performances of our students performing in solos, duets, trios, and larger ensembles. This year, Stephanie is hoping to create a virtual musical performance. Similar to the school wide community meeting videos Stephanie has produced each week, the virtual concert will showcase our vibrant musical community even if we can’t all gather together. Stephanie shares that “we're writing a song called "My Name is a Song" where each student is responsible for writing a measure long composition for their name that will fit into the verses of the song.” Stephanie is hopeful to release this one of a kind community music showcase in the spring. We can’t wait to see it!
Through all the challenges of this school year, Stephanie has been grateful for the inspiration and motivation that her students show each and every day. She shares that “The kids are such an incredible group of creative, enthusiastic, artful individuals. It's hard not to be inspired by them! Every time I come to them with a creative idea, they "one up" me with something even more inspiring and novel. They crave artistic expression and love to learn - a music educator's dream!“
Third and fourth graders collaborate to sing ‘Can You Sing About Martin’ and ‘Oh Freedom’