Valley View 4th & 5th graders celebrated Winter in concert

Through music, Fourth and Fifth grade students at Valley View Elementary School in Montville, New Jersey, spent some time in January celebrating winter. On Wednesday, January 14, 2015 one hundred and twenty upperclassmen presented an in-school assembly for three hundred preschool through third grade students. The assembly served as both a dress rehearsal for the Winter Concert, scheduled for parents and family the following morning, and an opportunity for the student musicians to entertain their peers. The January 14 in-school assembly marks the first time Valley View students have performed the Winter Concert for the student body. It also highlights a Montville Township Public Schools music education trend to provide more than one performance a season for music students.

Under the direction of music teacher, Mary Wilczynski, over 120 students sang in two choruses. Many more played in Wilczynski’s Orff Ensemble, which rehearses during lunch.

Additionally, for the first time at a Valley View Winter Concert, a dozen fifth grade string students were conducted by music teacher Janice Scharf, and a dozen advanced fourth and fifth grade band students performed under the direction of Rick Ketay.

“Not all of our strings and band students are performing here today,” explained Scharf. “Because they are still new to playing an instrument. Our students have never performed at the Winter Concert, but this type of assembly and this type of concert helps students to understand what they are working toward and why practice is important.”

“Come Spring, all of our instrumental students will be ready to perform,” Ketay added. “And we are looking forward to making the Winter Concert a tradition.”

The excitement was high for both the audience and performers at the in-school Winter Concert assembly.

Through choral music and instrumental music, the performers presented the best of winter. Several arrangements of “Jingle Bells,” gave the audience and performers an education in how a variety of musical treatments can affect the mood and pace of any musical composition. Other winter favorites included “Auld Lang Syne” and “Frosty the Snowman.”

From marches to ballads the student musicians explored winter, as well as patriotism, America and character. During the 80 minute concert melody, counter melody, dynamics, harmony, syncopation, and even choreography were performed.

“It was snowing, the wind was blowing, the snow was falling all around me,” sang the fifth grade chorus. “It was the perfect winter day.”

The song’s lyrics seemed to capture the thoughts of teachers, students, and all audience members. At the Valley View Winter Concert it was, indeed, “the perfect winter day.”