The Essential Question that guided our projects’ focus was:
How do musicians improve the quality of their performance?
Instructor feedback and group lessons helped students improve their musicality. The end of year recital gave students a tangible goal to work toward and a way to frame the lessons around the essential question.
At the conclusion of the project, students responded to questions related to the identified Standards:
Student proficiency was captured in the end of year recital. Participants were able to discuss with their instructor Jonelle Darrow how rhythm communicates meaning and how changes in those rhythms can change meanings.
Impact
High Country Music was enthusiastically received by parents and students alike who greatly appreciated the opportunity for students to take violin lessons in our rural area. In addition, the opportunity for students to interact with professional musicians as a part of Second Sunday Sounds @ Six series was tremendous in giving students exposure to professional musicians as well as a chance to further develop musical skills. 16 students gained proficiency in beginning violin. Several students and their parents commented on how important music had become in their lives.
Reflection
Students gained an appreciation of classical music, proficiency in playing classical music and the pride that comes from performing and sharing music with others. By working on a performance, students were able to convey meaning in their own work and experienced the excitement of preparing for and taking part in a performance.
Next year, we will run the program again –one of the lessons learned was to have lessons on a different day than Monday due to school holidays during winter months.
