Alpine schools go out on a musical note

The children in Alpine County schools ended the school year on a high note. 

All students at Diamond Valley School participated in a musical evening on June 1. General Music Coordinator Janelle Blocher wanted to have a final performance that the children could be proud of and demonstrate their skills.

"I think it is important to have a sense of completion and a goal," she said.

The concert marks the end of a four year musical program, "sorry to say," Blocher added.

The district bought rights to one of the MIND programs, JIJI, which coordinated a computer driven math program and a general music program. The price of the JIJI program has escalated beyond the means of the district budget, according to Blocher.

The ones who benefitted the most from the music program are the third- and fourth-grade students because they had the benefit of instruction for all four years. 

Even though Blocher was limited to teaching two days a week, she "knows the students benefit from any music instruction."

Besides learning to listen to music and singing, Blocher taught basic keyboarding. The district was awarded a grant for 24 Yamaha keyboards, which were used to play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in the performance.

One parent on the School Site Council, Lorraine Craik, believed that the children needed more music instruction and convinced her mother-in-law to champion the cause.

Fortunately for all involved, Virginia Craik is the mother-in-law who volunteered to teach all interested students to play a variety of musical instruments. Craik just retired last year from a career of teaching at Diamond Valley School, so she was familiar with the students, the scheduling, the curriculum, and she had the added pleasure of seeing her grandson, Ethan, at the school.

The first feat for Craik was salvaging the instruments from storage and getting them in shape to play. She found someone in Carson City who did much of the work restoring the instruments at a very low cost. 

Craik's background is in classical piano that she studied for seven or eight years. She taught herself to play the ukulele and the accordion, "so between all those instruments I knew the chords.  I also had experience playing for the Methodist church for years.  It also helps that I have perfect pitch, so I know when the kids are playing the right note."

"I like to teach and if the kids are willing to try, then it is fun for everyone," Craik said. Her philosophy is that children learn from helping each other, so she encouraged group learning. She wanted to keep music fun so she kept a laid-back approach.

"We only had two hours a week for music, so I showed up at recess time and allowed kids who wanted extra help the opportunity to work together with me," Craik explained. 

The children were allowed to take the instruments home to practice, but that proved to be a problem since many children forgot to bring their instruments back to school. Out of the 12 who played, only three practiced at home. 

Craik believes that "any student who practices enough does better."

One student, Brianna Mortimer, did practice and did perform a solo on her alto-saxophone for the June concert. 

Craik, the soloist, and the eleven other band members got a standing ovation from the audience. It was well done on all levels.

Two days later, the children at the Early Learning Center held their spring concert.

The 2-5-year-olds sang alphabet songs, a song in the Washoe language, a Spanish song, and several others while sitting under their theme poster art "The World is a Rainbow."

The administration recognized all teachers, staff, district personnel, and volunteers who work together to make the center a positive experience.

Members of the Parents Club presented baskets of flowers to the teachers for helping their children grow. And summer vacation begins.