Transportation: Please Note 

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of families and staff in following up with the bus company, buses are now arriving consistently on-time in the mornings. Class begins promptly at 8:15 am. If you bring your child to school, please make every effort to ensure that they arrive on-time.

December Assembly: Polar Bears, Break Dancing, and Chamber Orchestras 

Last Friday's Assembly was yet another cornucopia of talent. Students from every grade level were represented in the performances, which included dance, rap, theatre, and orchestral music. Acts included full-class presentations of Learning Expeditions, as well as solo and small-ensemble performances envisioned and rehearsed by students during their recess time.

The assembly began with the K1 class, delivering a fully staged production Eric Carle's "Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What do You See?" The costuming, prepared by the performers, invoked the vibrancy of Carle's illustrations, while their artful command of presentation voice and performance posture drew the audience into the subtle dynamism of seeing and being seen.

The lineup included a chamber orchestra of Bernstein Orchestra string players, a choreographed rendition of the anthem, "Forward" presented by the 3^rd and 4^th grade classes, a hip-hop throw-down between rap artists Trayvon and Yantaya, a trombone duet, a break-dance solo, and a reprise of 1^st grade wax museum presentations. It was a celebration of creativity, dedicated practice, joyful spontaneity, and deep learning. In the words of one parent, "This is what Conservatory Lab is all about."

Ensemble Spotlights: K1/K2 Rockstars and Abreu Orchestra 

On December 18, the students in K1, K2, and Abreu Orchestra will perform in the first of two winter concerts. Conductor Rebecca Levi shares reflections on the repertoire.    

K1/K2 Rockstars   

In K1 and K2, we sing a lot of folk music from different traditions. With "I Got Rhythm," we represent our heritage of great North America standards. With "It's A Big Old Goofy World," we showcase a more recent folk singer-songwriter, John Prine. Our final piece comes from our sister continent, South America.  

When I was living in Peru for two years, I had the opportunity to play traditional music in Quechua, the language of the Andean mountains and the Incas, which existed before the Spanish arrived. One of my friends and fellow musicians wrote the song "Pachamama Tatya Inti," which celebrates the traditional deities of the Quechua people: Mother Earth (Pachamama), Father Sun (Tatya Inti), God of the Universe (Wiracocha), Mother Moon (Mamakilla), and Goddess of Health and Joy (Mamacoca). You will also hear the words Pachacutec (king of the Incas) and Harawi (traditional style of music).

Abreu Orchestra

Our beginning string players start by developing their position and their tone through foundational exercises (represented by the D Major Scale Canon) and folk tunes such as "Lightly Row" and "French Folk Song." The Abreu Orchestra's repertoire draws heavily from the Suzuki tradition. Shinichi Suzuki was a violinist and master teacher who developed not only a beautiful constructed string curriculum but also a philosophy centered on the power of group music making to uplift the soul. He was an inspiration to José Antonio Abreu, founder of El Sistema.

Music Across Cultures 

This week, two Longy School of Music students, Diana Flores and Jose Juvinao, shared with 6th graders their passion for how music connects cultures around the world and through time. In three workshops, the musicians presented connections between the classical music of Bach and the Latin American rhythms they grew up with. On the first day, students danced while Diana performed the Courante and Gigue from Bach's Third Solo Suite and continued dancing on the second day while Jose played the rhythms of the Colombian pasillo on the double bass. On the third day, the musicians blended the two music genres while students kept the beat with their feet. 

Healthy Treats in the Classroom DIY Edition

Our K1 students are turning into healthy eating experts thanks to their teachers and several parent volunteers.  So far this year they have made a fruit salad based on the Eric Carle book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar and apple sauce for the holidays.  We are so grateful to the parents who have been able to come in and help our youngest learners prepare to eat healthy all their lives!

Students (and Staff) in Local Concerts 

• On Saturday, December 15th several community concerts will be held in Pickman Hall at Longy School of Music, 27 Garden Street Cambridge (the site of our concerts).  Arianna Rodriguez will be performing with the chorus at 2 PM and Sofya Gurel, Olivia Cox, Nate Wertheimer and Colby Mei will be performing with the String Ensemble at 5 PM.
• On Sunday, December 16th, at 3:30 PM, Benjamin Lee and Joshua Dam will be performing with the Boston Citywide String Orchestra, conducted by our own Mr. Gonzalez, at the Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists at 300 Walnut Street in Roxbury.
• On Tuesday, December 18th at 6:30 PM El Sistema Somerville will present their "Community in Harmony" Collaborative Concert at the East Somerville Community School, 115 Pearl Street, Somerville.  Resident Artists Chris Schroeder, Levi Comstock and Joshua Garver will be performing.