Hanson's Middle School Musical Adventures

2020-2021

"Our challenge is to strike the flint that ignites the spark and then become keepers of the flame. Feeding the fire, through our support and guidance, providing opportunities and experiences that let the flame grow until it is a glowing light - that can help illuminate the world."


-Alma Powell, Chair, America’s Promise Alliance, forward to the book, “Sparks,” by Peter L. Benson, Ph.D.


The 2020-2021 school year was a daunting new adventure since we could not sing as a choir or in the building. The concept of "choir" had to be completely re-imagined. My goal was to create a new kind of musical experience, with the hope of igniting "sparks" in my students. The Middle School classes I taught this year included 5-6 choir, 7-8 choir (Treble Rebels) and Chamber Singers Treble.


This was the year to explore, create and take risks. Students were encouraged to find their own voice and dare to be expressive with that voice. The world of solo vocal music was opened up to them and they explored. We talked about opera, a cappella, pop, hip hop and more. Students gave presentations on the decades and sang songs from each decade. From Doris Day to Snoop Dogg, we explored the world of popular music. Small groups created music videos and soloists performed raps, nursery rhymes and popular songs. This web-page will give you a glimpse into our adventurous year.

-Melissa Hanson

Group Projects


We had various assignments where students worked in pairs and small groups to create a music video. Perfection was not the expectation - creativity, teamwork and learning how to film and edit a video were just a few of the skills they developed. Students recorded their voices outside or at home and then edited their videos. MANY students were too self conscious to include their videos on this page. Thank you to the daring souls who said "yes" to participating on this page. There are many others who did beautiful work, but weren't quite ready to make their singing public yet. Bloopers are included!


GRADES 5-6

SpencerKoenWilson.mov

Koen Mehta, Spencer Reisberg, Wilson Rice

Tootsie Slide, Drake

Matteo and Ryan.mov

Ryan Caicedo, Matteo Evaristo

California Dreamin', The Mamas & The Papas

CortDeckerCarterParker.mp4

Parker Beltz, Decker Dahlof, Cort Engelsma, Carter Fox

Classic, MKTO

KatieMariaCamilaMaddieLetitGo

Camila Pardo, Maddie Theissen,

Maria Vrieze, Katie Zakrajsheck

Let It Go, from Frozen

Straight outta scranton.mp4

Parker Beltz & Carter Fox

Straight Outta Scranton,

from "The Office"

Don't Stop Believin'

Ryan Caicedo, Matteo Evaristo, Zoe Grossman, Abel Megerssa, Felix Muellerleile, Willaim Oberlies, Vincent Pelino

Don't Stop Believin', Journey

GRADES 7-8

IsabelleChloeAddy-Harmony

Isabelle Arden, Chloe Devlin, Addy Gunther

Bellyache, Billie Eilish

NoraEloiseNelson.mp4

Eloise Muellerleile, Nora Oberlies, Nelson Rice

The ABCs

GabbyNiyaCheney

Cheney Parkhill, Gabby Stratton, Niya Weston

All I Wanted Was You, Paramore


Vail Taylor Baby Shark

Vail Fehr & Taylor Peterson

Baby Shark, Pinkfong

Luci and Sohana.mp4

Luci Montgomery Baker & Sohana Morioka

Mama Mia, from Mama Mia

IsabelleAddyChloe

Isabelle Arden, Chloe Devlin, Addy Gunther

Sweet But Psycho, Ava Max

thank you next .mp4

Ava Allingham, Anika Golla, Alana Jaffe, Parker Jones

Thank You, Next, Ariana Grande


"In terms of brain development, musical performance is every bit as important educationally as reading or writing."


-Oliver Sachs, neurologist

Rap Project


We explored the Hip Hop genre and attempted to write our own raps. Some students loved this project, others were resistant. In the end, only a few would share their work (NO 7-8th graders!). We used a “rap name generator” to find our rapper names. I had various names: Inspectah Hanson, Funkyface Hanson, EmAitch, to name a few. We watched a video about writing rap that helped us write a few lines. Then students searched for a “beat” to which they set their rap. I hope you enjoy the results!


Grades 5-6

AdeleRap.mov

Adele Sinkula,

My Name is Adele

SorenRap.mov

Soren Hegley

Despacito

AlexisRapAudio.mov

Alexis Snyder

Online Classes

HadleyRap

Hadley Malkerson

Cupcake


"Music is a therapy. It is a communication far more powerful than words, far more immediate, far more efficient."


-Yehudi Menuhin, violinist

Solos

Solos became an important feature of choir this year. Students could work on their solos at home during remote schooling, or outside when they were at school. These videos are not about perfection, but about the journey of young singers to find their unique voices. Students were encouraged to find a comfortable place to sing. In order to find privacy, students made their recordings in closets, garages, bathrooms, backyards and baseball fields. Written feedback about vocal technique and song performance was given to every student, every time they submitted an assignment. Enjoy!


Grades 5-6

IMG_4855.MOV

Addison Detor

rubberband, Tate McRae

Koen Lights

Koen Mehta

Lights Shine Bright, Tobymac, feat. Hollyn

Movie on 5-6-21 at 5.57 PM.mov

Zoe Grossman & Dad

Let It Be, The Beatles

Sophie You and I

Sophie Layman

You and I, Ingrid Michaelson

We even made holiday song recordings!

MariaHoliday

Maria Christianson

I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, John Rox

ZoeHoliday

Zoe Grossman

Prayers for the Lighting of the Menorah

MatteoHoliday.mp4

Matteo Evaristo

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, arr. Bruce Springsteen

Alexis Jingle

Alexis Snyder

Jingle Bell Rock, Beale & Booth

More popular songs...

Proud Mary Grade 5.mov

Adele Sinkula

Proud Mary, John Fogerty, Tina Turner arrangement

Soren All Star

Soren Hegley

All Star, Greg Camp

Savana Over the Rainbow

Savanna Eison

Over the Rainbow, Harold Arlen

Deja vu

Akilah Anderson & Alexis Snyder

Deja Vue, Rodrigo & Nigo

Miraculous Song.mp4

Verona Danz

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir, Noam

Lydia

Lydia Vollmer

Levitating, Dua Lipa

Here Comes the Sun.mp4

Alexis Snyder

Here Comes the Sun, George Harrison

The Lion Sleeps

Maria Christianson

The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Solomon Linda

Grades 7-8

Isabelle-Solo.MOV

Isabelle Arden

Xanny, Billie Eilish

Esme-Solo.MOV

Esme Ashcroft

Somewhere Only We Know, Keane

Gabby Solo

Gabby Stratton

Deviltown, Cavetown

Olivia-Solo.mov

Olivia Dolan

Control, Zoe Wees

London Black Sheep

London Fehr

Baa Baa Black Sheep,

Bianca-Solo

Bianca Breiland

What It Means to Be a Friend, from the musical, "13"


"Music is indivisible. The dualism of feeling and thinking must be resolved to a state of unity in which one thinks with the heart and feels with the brain."

-George Szell, conductor



"If the purpose of an education is to systematically develop the mind and capabilities of every child, it is clear that music has a unique and necessary role to play."

-Donald A. Hodges, music professor, UNC

Thank you!


Thank you to the Performing Arts Department for providing a supportive environment where students can create beauty and discover their passions.


Thank you to Lucas Audette for assisting with class and watching over these wonderful students.

Thank you to the Breck Administration for your continued support of the performing arts.


Thank you to all of the students in Hanson's 5-6 Choirs, 7-8 Choir (Treble Rebels) and Chamber Singers for daring to find their voices.

Finally, thank you to the parents and families of our students for supporting your child and our choral program.