Lincoln Ave. Students Perform, Teach Music at Pearl River School Board Meeting

A group of fourth grade students from Lincoln Ave. Elementary School shared what they have learned about playing Orff instruments at Tuesday's Pearl River Board of Education meeting. 

Then they tried their hands at teaching, specifically showing the members of the school board and administration how to play. 

The student presentation represented the latest in a series of such displays instituted by Dr. John Morgano since he took over as the Pearl River School District's Superintendent. Morgano complimented the students' work as musicians and teachers.

"I think it's important to have students and teachers come to our board meetings so everyone can see the great work our teachers do and the great work our students do every day," Morgan said. "It's one small sample of the great owrk our teachers do with our students every day."

Music teacher Scott Lewis put together the presentation with Lincoln Ave. fourth graders Anna Carney, Victoria Clark, Kevin Cunney, Anna Hardy, Ashley Harrington, Jackson Lawson, Ava Raffa, Jack Scanlon and Nicole Wertz. 

Smith explained the history of the tone bar instruments, including xylophones, metallophones and Glockenspiels, which were developed for educational use by composer Carl Orff. 

"The underlying philosophy is one of critical thinking, improvisation and working together," Lewis said. "All things found in good music programs everywhere. These instruments really help us to develop that."

Lewis was asked if the students were showing what they learned in the elementary school band or orchestra programs.

"This is part of the general music sequence," Lewis said. "Every student plays these instruments. In first grade, we use hand percussion instruments. In second grade, they begin to play these, but they are mostly for third and fourth grade."

During the previous board of education meeting Jan. 22, pushing the beginning of offering band and orchestra back to middle school and eliminating those programs from the elementary schools was discussed as one potential cost-saving measure for the 2013-14 budget. 

"One of the things I love most about Pearl River is we have a fantastic working relationship with the board, the administration and the teachers," Lewis said "Whatever needs to happen will happen for the kids. You do what you have to do and I do what I have to do."