MARMORA — It was standing room only for the second grade choral concert Nov. 29 at Upper Township Primary School.
More than 200 parents and loved ones filled the performance space with their smiling faces and tapping feet as the students — divided into a morning session and afternoon session — sand holiday selections under the direction of music teacher Amy Lord.
“It’s amazing to see this many family members of these kids show up on a Friday morning, but obviously it’s very important for families to be here and that’s great,” Superintendent Allison Pessolano said. “Families are really invested in what schools do for their children and it’s great to see.”
Lord, who splits her times between the primary and elementary schools (900 to 1,000 students total), is in her 29th year with Upper Township School District and 32nd year teaching.
Dressed in their holiday best, the children sang “Hanukkah, O Hanukkah” and “All on a Silent Night” (original lyrics to the melody of “Silent Night”), along with crowd favorites “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman” and “Suzy Snowflake.”
In addition, 16 students in each session had speaking parts, adding historical and cultural context to each selection.
Lord said she and the students started working on the concert in the first full week of school back in September.
“It takes about three class periods to teach a song, then other class periods to rehears review so that they know it,” Lord said, noting the students sing from memory with no music to guide them.
“That takes a good bit of time,” she said, noting the only recently finished learning the final selection.
Lord said the instruction is a cumulative learning experience, with some being added each session like a snowball rolling downhill.
“What I normally do is start a piece, teach a chunk, then review and learn something new, and at the end of class review all of it,” she said.
But Lord said it’s about more than teaching children the songs
“You’re also trying to teach musical skills along the way,” she said, noting at the introductory level it involves paying attention to the director, counting beats, following the beat pattern and knowing when not to sing and for how long, as well as volume changes.
“They are 8 years old, that’s a lot for a little kid to remember, and they are standing up in front of people at 8 years old and that’s a lot,” Lord said.
Even after three decades of teaching, Lord still enjoys the holiday concerts.
“I think that’s important, to try to teach in a way that is fun and, most important, that they feel good about what they do,” she said. “The point is learning and growing and feeling good, and having fun while we are doing it.”
Lord said Principal Jamie Gillespie has been very supportive of the music program, noting when the performance space — a former gymnasium — was rehabilitated he agreed to install panels to help absorb the sound in such a wide-open venue.
She also noted the district just bought new risers and used them for the first time Friday.
“It’s nice they have invested in our students and their music experience,” Lord said.
Past traditional retirement age for a teacher, Lord said the enjoys her job too much to give it up.
“I think I have the best job ever because I get to make something great with some amazing people every single day all day long,” she said.
“It was incredible; the kids are adorable, they were so into it,” Pessolano said. “This is the first experience I have had with them but I’m sure there will be many more great concerts to come.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
