Musically Resilient

In the first seven weeks of the school year during Covidtide (I’ve adopted a new word from a friend), students in grades 6-8 have been working hard. Sixth grade students have become beloved members of chorus and are rehearsing at school (without singing!) and virtually. Seventh and eighth grade chorus members have been rehearsing virtually on Zoom.

On Oct. 26, Chorus led prayer & praise worship on “Resilience.” In this worship, chorus released a video of Abbie Betinis’s song “Resilience” from The Justice Choir Songbook.  To make the soundtrack, students recorded themselves in Soundtrap, a digital audio workstation (DAW). They then created signs with words from the song and took pictures of themselves holding their sign. The signs have been hung in the hall on the third and fourth floors to encourage the school. Finally, we shared the song with composer Abbie Betinis who was so thrilled that she has asked to share our video through the Justice Choir social media!! You can watch the video below.

And… there’s more! Students in sixth grade general music have been learning to use Soundtrap. They have been working on a rhyme project where they record themselves saying a nursery rhyme and then add voice transformations and sound effects. Next, they’ll add music.

In seventh and eighth grade, students have been working on their music exhibitions. On Wednesday, November 11, they’ll present digital audiobooks complete with sound effects and music. Parents will receive the schedules via email so that they may attend their child’s exhibition.