6th Graders Follow the Trail of Civil War Soldiers

Guided by a park ranger, they followed the trail of the 54th regiment, who trained on neighboring Gallops Island. This regiment was among the first and most active African American regiments during the Civil War and played a pivotal role in the battle of Fort Wagner. The 6th grade class recently completed a research assignment focusing on this regiment as part of a larger expedition on the Civil War.

Uniforms! 

A Night of Science for Fifth Grade  

Standing Ovation for First Graders in Musical Theater Performance 

By Jonah Comstock

Intern, Psychology Today

            When the Conservatory Lab 1st graders took the stage, it was clearly the culmination of months of work - not only on the part of the students, but also of a creative team that included teachers, parents, and Brendan Shea, a special guest writer from the American Repertory Theater.

            The finished production, directed by Jovanne Buckmire and Katie Biro, is a flawlessly executed musical fairy tale that brought the Three Little Pigs into the 21st century through the first-graders' spirited performances. Shea's take on the story showcased the students' experiential learning about the building process. We're introduced to them in the prologue, wherein their pig parents send them off into the world. One is a hardworking builder, one is a clever scientist, and one is a sensitive soul who likes to draw pictures. We meet these pigs in the opening number, "Build Your House," one of several snappy pieces by resident artist Levi Comstock which fill out the book. In this number and others, I was impressed by the students' strong voices and clear articulation, not to mention some cute choreography.

            Next, with the help of our narrator, we segue five years later to see the pigs building their houses with different materials - natural ones like wood, and man-made materials like plastic. The structures look great, but, to the pigs' horror, a trio of Big Bad Wolves has other plans, bulldozing them away to make room for the hastily-constructed Wolf City U.S.A. (A sly tribute to "We Built this City" by Starship, courtesy of one-woman pit orchestra Rebecca Levi, underscores the operation.)

            It's only when the third pig, in the show-stopping solo "Bricks and Dreams", realizes her dream of becoming an architect, that the three pigs have what it takes to team up and build a Piggyplex the wolves won't be able to tear down. When the wolves' flimsy city crumbles, the pigs welcome them into the fold for the final number, a powerful performance of Peter, Paul, and Mary's "If I Had a Hammer."

Watch highlights from the show on YouTube!

Wind Players Perform at Boston Conservatory       

On Sunday, the wind players of Conservatory Lab performed in a collaborative concert with Keys for Kids, an after school music program in the North End. The concert was organized by Resident Artist Chris Schroeder. He shares his gratitude:

The collaborative process is one that sparks creativity and stretches our perception of our own abilities, elevating the duo or group to a greater level of performance and artistry. Today is a celebration of this collaborative spirit. From a glance at today's program, one sees an array of duets, trios, quartets and large ensembles. But under the surface, many of the music selections are a result of my collaborations with these students from their respective programs.  

When I began teaching at these programs two years ago, there was a list of standard repertoire that existed since I began playing at age 12. However none of these books could prepare me for these diverse music programs. With dedicated 5 and 6 year-old trumpet players at Keys for Kids, the seemingly limitless elementary-age wind players at Conservatory Lab and head-banging 1st graders at the North End Music and Performing Arts Center, I was in search of a way to connect with each student within these unique cultures.

5th Grade Explores Sights and Sounds of Harbor Islands