Clearview fourth graders held a musical performance featuring songs and a play for family and staff May 11.

 

All the songs in the program were from or had a connection to Africa. Songs included Linstead Market from Jamaica, Bogando a la del sol (Rowing Toward the Sunlight) from Venezuela, Siyahamba, from Africa, Swing Low Sweet Chariot, with three verses sung by soloists Sebastian Castrillon, Ayla Perry and Tanner Ferkinhoff, and Mary Came A-Running, Over the Rainbow with soloist Baily Means.

 

The songs were followed by a play called Gettin’ Outta Town, an African folktale. In the play students played African music on percussion and Orff instruments starting with a Congo lullaby and then rocking to a fast marimba piece called Mbira Jam.

 

 Students danced for the fire, water and drought scenes, and the play’s main characters wore masks created by Clearview Para Bonnie Gilles.

 

“What I notice about performance is that kids want to be really good,” said music teacher Karen Ingeman. “They work at discipline to polish pieces, focus to know transitions, and independence in being ready to play their own part.  It's always a thing of beauty to see and hear their collaborations and creations come alive in performance.”