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- [S106] The Mountain Press, 18 Aug 2012.
School bells ring: Music class starts off on right note
by RACHEL OSBORN
SEYMOUR — Though it was only the first day of school on Thursday, Lisa Bitzas' general music and choir students at Seymour Middle School were already showing off their singing voices and dance moves.
As members of the sixth-grade choir—the Treble Makers—sang about their favorite foods to the beat and played fun name games to get to know one another, Bitzas couldn't help but become excited about the year ahead.
"Each year, at the beginning of the year, you get a clean slate," she explained. "You get to start all over again and try to be better than you were before. That goes for teachers, as well as students."
At Seymour Middle, all students are required to take a general music class where they learn music theory through playing the piano, working with mountain dulcimers and studying African drums, among other subjects. Students who are members of the band or choir are exempt from this requirement.
The Treble Makers consists of sixth-grade choir students, who participate in a concert each spring.
The Eagle Ensemble is made up of seventh- and eighth-grade choir members, who perform a madrigal dinner each year at Christmastime. They will also go on a Nashville tour in the spring, where they will see a Broadway performance and record music in a recording studio.
As the choir members learned a portion of the music alphabet and tossed around a beach ball while playing with their voices that morning, an excited energy filled the pale yellow classroom.
"I like the energy (of the first day)," Bitzas said. "Everyone is excited."
That's because of the many uncertainties the middle schoolers have.
"They're excited because of the unknown," Bitzas said. "They get new teachers. They don't know who is in their class with them.
"They're excited about what the year holds—extra curricular activities, events, sports and after school programs."
In the games, students had to describe themselves using the first letter of their first name and then act out this adjective. They mimicked noises Bitzas made on instruments, using their voices.
Then, Bitzas handed out information packets that gave an overview of the program, including the syllabus explaining the periodic testing that will take place, a calendar of events for the year, a progress report schedule and performance attire requirements.
Student expectations was another important part of this packet. Students in the choir must maintain good grades and have an exemplary character, she said.
Though she has made guidelines for the students, Bitzas has also set a few goals for herself this school year.
"The goal is to create top-quality musicians and appreciators of music," she said. "That's the main goal. We want them to recognize beauty, not only in music but in art and everything else."
Bitzas strives to teach more than a love of music to her students. Students gain real-world knowledge through activities they participate in and trips the choir takes.
"It makes them a more well-rounded person," she said. "When in the music program—band or choir—our kids travel. It teaches them independence, how to manage their money, how to communicate with adults and how to be a leader.
"On the trips, each kid has a responsibility—clean the bus, inspect rooms, load or unload luggage. They learn to work together. You become a better communicator through music.
"We try to globalize our kids. We study other cultures. We learn to appreciate differences. Music is the vehicle we use to teach (all) these things.
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1966 - (58 years)
(Age 101 years)