Laurel Plains Third-Graders Show Off Musical Skills

Musical notes rang out of the Laurel Plains Elementary School auditorium in New City on Thursday morning as all three of the third-grade classes came together with the aid of their music teacher to serenade their families, teachers and peers in a recorder concert.

"We have been practicing since September," said Janet Smith, music teacher at Laurel Plains for the past seven years.  "Each of the three classes practiced separately, with a lesson once a week. We don't rehearse all together until it gets closer to the concert."

The students were excited as they saw all of their hard work pay off at the concert. They opened by singing Play That Music by Teresa Jennings and continued with four well-rehearsed traditional recorder songs: Au Clair De La Lun, Hot Cross Buns, On the Yang Tze and Shark Cage.

Maureen Voglio was happy to watch her youngest daughter, Samantha Voglio, perform.

"She has two older siblings, and it was finally her turn," said the proud mom of Samantha.  "She was so excited, she couldn't even wait. She has been practicing and getting her little ribbons."

The ribbons adorned all of the students' recorders. According to Smith, "they earn 'karate belts'" - different color strings for every song.  "Right now they've got six, each color is a different song," she said.

The third graders will continue taking music class and playing musical instruments throughout their time at Laurel Plains.  Many will graduate to more complex instruments like the saxophone and flute next year.