Band and choir students show talents

Sisters Middle School band and choir members recently showed off their talents to families and friends during two separate performances at the Sisters Middle School commons. Late in February, fifth and sixth graders performed to a standing room only crowd, and the next week on Tuesday, March 4, seventh and eighth graders entertained a full house of supporters.

Parents and grandparents flocked to the fifth and sixth grade performance.

"The first band and choir performance is such an important one for students and families," said Sisters Middle School principal Kathy Miner. "We were happy to see so many grandparents and extended family members attend."

According to choir director Tara MacSween, students learn life skills from performing.

"So many of the lessons that come from the performing side of a music class transfer in a unique way to life skills: perseverance; teamwork; composure; and courage in that it takes so much to push beyond your nerves and step out on a stage to present the final product that has taken so much energy to create. Beyond the skills that music teaches, it's just plain fun," she said.

Sisters Middle School structures performances to combine the talents of both band and choir members.

According to district band director Jody Henderson, all fifth and sixth graders at the middle school take what he calls a music selective class. This means that every fifth and sixth grader participates in music.

"They get to choose what music they take; they can either take band or choir," he said. "They also are offered some co-curricular opportunities after school through jazz band or the Americana Project."

When they get to seventh and eighth grades, students may elect to participate in band, choir or the Americana Project. Not all do. Currently, about 50 participate in the seventh and eighth grade band and just under 35 are in the choir.

According to Henderson, performances like the two most recent help students to showcase to parents and the community, as well as their peers, the work they are doing in class and the progress they are making in their musicianship.

Music, according to Henderson, is a curricular activity that can be taught.

"It is not just based upon a talent," he said.