Concert for Kids and Grown-Ups a Smash Hit
The Concert for Kids and Grown-ups is an annual favorite for fourth grade families in the Huntington School District. Beginning band and orchestra students spend several weeks teaching their parents how to play their respective musical instrument. The end result always brings down the house and this year was no different.
Students take delight in “playing teacher” as they work with their parents. “They instruct them on the proper position, playing techniques and music reading,” said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts.
If the best way to learn something is to teach it, then these Huntington students obtained a real education from their recent experience. Over the course of several weeks, practice time at home involved more than just a fourth grader and their instrument. It included mom, dad or another special family member as the adults joined in with the goal of learning a pair of songs they would later play at the annual concert.
Separate concerts were held for students and family members at Woodhull and Huntington Intermediate schools and the fun of past years was duplicated. The band and orchestra parents participated in a 30 minute rehearsal with district music teachers prior to their performance. Later, the parent orchestra and band performed for their children and the students performed separately for their parents.
“It's a fun evening during which our parents come to realize all that goes into learning to play an instrument, how important it is to practice, and what a thrill it is to work in a group and be on stage,” Ms. Fretz said. “The look on their faces as they perform is just priceless!”
Seeing parents on the stage always seems to be an enjoyable sight, regardless of who is sitting in the audience. Ms. Fretz said the adults take their performance seriously and often appear more nervous than the children. Watching six-foot tall fathers playing tiny little violins and small moms playing huge looking tubas is always quite interesting - humorous. No matter who was playing, though, the audience reacted enthusiastically.
The event has continued through the years because district staff members have found it to be one of the best and most fun ways to reinforce important beginning instrument skills. The experience not only gives Huntington parents a keen insight into instrumental instruction, but it serves as a real motivator for students.
“It is a valuable learning experience for our beginning students, as teaching all the reading and playing techniques that they have learned reinforces their learning and their ability to critique their own playing,” Ms. Fretz said.
The Huntington School District music program prides itself on providing an array of opportunities for parents to participate in their child’s education. From their first concert on stage in elementary school to their assistance at all high school band and orchestra events, music is something that Huntington families have enjoyed together for many years.
For more information about Huntington’s music program contact Ms. Fretz at 673-2106 or e-mail her at jfretz@hufsd.edu.
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