Students are Clearview Elementary School were recently treated to a performance by Class Notes Artists, the Mirandola Ensemble, a four-part vocal music group.

 

The performance was sponsored by Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) through their Class Notes Artists program. Class Notes Artists are professional musicians who visit elementary schools to perform and talk about music.

 

Classical MPR and the Class Notes Artists work together to create curriculum that supports the Minnesota standards for arts education. Many schools today have had their music programs cut and most students have either never or rarely seen a live musical performance.

 

The Mirandola Ensemble is comprised of Nick Chalmers singing alto, Matthew Culloton, bass, Angela Grundstad, soprano and Andrew Kane, tenor. After their introduction, the members explained and demonstrated the four voice types to the students.

 

They then told them they would be singing music from six continents, North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia, and began their concert with a lullaby from Guatemala. 

 

Throughout their performance the musicians spent time interactively teaching the students about the music they were singing as well as things such as good posture and breathing techniques for singing.

 

Students sat enthralled while the group sang and eagerly joined in the learning portions of the performance.

 

Clearview Music Teacher Karen Ingeman explained the core concepts for the Mirandola Ensemble are that good technique is essential for good singing, and each culture and era has its own music with unique characteristics.

 

Class Notes Artists is completely free for schools. The program’s goal is to “create authentic and transformative experiences for young students, inspiring creativity and contributing to what they’re already learning from their music teachers.

 

For more information on Classical MPR’s Class Notes Artists, visit classicalmpr.org.