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We’re Not Throwing Away Our Shot! Chorus Spring Concert 2021

May 27, 2021 | Jessica Smith

In a year where live singing was forbidden due to Covid-19, students in Chorus have been singing and learning new music on Zoom! During the course of the year, students have sung vocal exercises, learned new music and performed on camera to lead our school community during worship, Las Posadas, and finally for a digital Spring Concert!

The work of these incredible musicians is now featured on a Google Site as a digital portfolio of the year. Along with the digital portfolio is the release of two new videos, “You Will Be Found” from the musical Dear Evan Hansen and “Hamilton Highlights,” a medley from the musical Hamilton. 

The Chorus Spring Concert Google Site is open for the next two weeks.  Please visit the site and enjoy the beautiful singing of these singers from grades 6-8.

Wondering how students were able to perform together? Students rehearsed together on Zoom while muted. During class, they went to breakout rooms led by 7th & 8th grade leaders to learn their part. Once students were confident, they would record their part along with a rehearsal track on a program called Flipgrid.

After students recorded their parts, the videos were downloaded from Flipgrid. The audio was split from the file and put into a Digital Audio Workstation, Garageband. Once the tracks were lined up so that a digital chorus was created, the audio file and videos were put into a video program, WeVideo to line up the videos.

Though it is not the same as singing together, we are grateful that we were able to use technology to sing together!

Jessica Smith

Music Teacher, Preschool and Grades 6-8; Worship Coordinator

With more than 20 years experience teaching music in a variety of settings from elementary to college, Dr. Jessica Smith has a deep love for music education, integrated arts curriculum, world music, and worship.
In 2017, Smith traveled to Ghana to study West African drumming and dance as part of a fellowship from Fund for Teachers. In 2015, she completed four years of training to become a Guild Certified Feldenkrais™ Practitioner, a method that uses neuroscience and movement as a catalyst for potent learning. As a clinician, Smith has led workshops in vocal studies and drum circle facilitation. Before coming to Mustard Seed School in 2008, Smith was the Director of Preparatory & Continuing Studies at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music where she also served as a Visiting Professor.

Dr. Smith enjoys traveling and spending too much money on plants at the Union Square Greenmarket.

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