Sierra Foothill Charter School offers music instruction at every grade level. Transitional kindergarten through second grade students enjoy lessons in percussion led by Orff certified instructor Naoko Kada; teacher Teena Starchman incorporates ukulele in lessons to her third and fourth grade students; and music teacher Gail Vanderslik instructs students in multiple grade levels not only in band instruments, but also this year in guitar, violin, piano, and bells. In prior years, she has also instructed students in voice and cello.
On Thursday, May 18, 2017 SFCS celebrated the culmination of students' music education this year with two concerts.
SFCS band students take a bow with music teacher Gail Vanderslik after their performance (pictured): Sayer Harry, Skylee Butler, Jacqueline Telles-Trujillo, Ian Beutel-DePrano, Aidan Pierson, Wyatt Brouillette, Elle Sexton, Mikey Owens, and Westley Sheffield.
During the afternoon, under the direction of teacher Teena Starchman and instructional aide Christy Lombard, third and fourth grade students performed beautifully on their ukuleles for their schoolmates, families, and friends. Students rotated with the ukuleles so that each had the opportunity to play the ukulele for one song. They also performed a number of songs that incorporated clever hand movements, and they encouraged audience participation with sing-alongs.
Fourth grader Lily Grauman (pictured) performs a solo on her violin during the May 18 SFCS Music Concert. Ms. Gail Vanderslik accompanies her.
That evening, in a separate concert in the SFCS multipurpose room, music teacher Gail Vanderslik led students in band and individual performances on a variety of instruments. The band opened and closed with three songs. In between, students performed solo pieces on band instruments, guitar, violin, and piano. Students were proud and happy to share what they have learned this school year. They did an outstanding job with their performances.
Ms. Starchman's third and fourth graders during their concert. (pictured bottom row): Tyler Knauf, Elle Sexton, Dylan DuBois, Samuel Harveston, and Leighla Roupe. Middle row: Zander Greco, Aiden Beutel-DePrano, Rosie Neogy, Reese Evans, and Weston Frazer. Top row: Darragh Duffy, Mylee Allen, Matthew Corn, Morgan Imrie, and Sage Inman.
In addition to the joy found in playing and listening to music, multiple studies have shown that music education has proven benefits in facilitating learning of all sorts. SFCS is pleased to offer music education and its benefits to students in all grade levels.
Music at various grade levels
In transitional kindergarten through second grade, music teacher Naoko Kada provides Orff instruction.
Orff, based on the teaching of Carl Orff (1895-1982), combines the elements of speech, rhythm, movement, dance, and song. Children are encouraged to improvise, which is something that comes naturally to them, and to create their own melodies and to explore their imaginations. With Orff as the basis, students are active participants in an integrated, guided process that allows for differing musical abilities.
Early in the school year, Orff-certified instructor Naoko Kada (pictured left), leads the SFCS transitional kindergarten/kindergarten class in a lesson on percussion instruments.
Third and fourth grade teacher Teena Starchman trained with local musician and teacher Gail Dreifus last year in the Guitars in the Classroom program. With the help of this training, Ms. Starchman has transformed music lessons in her classroom into a creative process that engages students and promotes learning. Students began with a refresher on rhythm, learned to sing some songs, then began basic lessons on their ukuleles purchased through the generosity of a Mariposa Community Foundation grant last year. Their playing progressively becoming more complex. The year’s lessons culminated in the recent student concert.
Music Teacher Gail Vanderslik teaches music to SFCS students in multiple grade levels. Ms. Vanderslik has been teaching music in Mariposa through her "Sounds of Music" studio for over thirty years. She holds degrees from Fresno Pacific University in secondary music education, music composition, and music in the church. She holds certificates in Kindermusik and Orff. She has taught music in preschools, elementary and middle schools, and to private students ranging in age from four to adults. She is the Director of the Mariposa Community Chorus and a member of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra. In addition to teaching music at SFCS since its opening in 2012, for the 2016-2017 school year, Ms. Gail, as she is known at school, is also the Director of the Mariposa High School Grizzly Band.
With the breadth and depth of her education and experience, Ms. Gail is able to teach students not only band instruments, but whatever other instrument they are interested in learning. This year, this included guitar, piano, bells, and voice.
Unique to other schools in the area, under Ms. Gail’s direction, SFCS students are able to join the band whenever they are ready; they do not have to wait until fourth grade. For instance, last year, first grader Westley Sheffield was already proficient enough on trumpet to join the band. He continues on trumpet in the band again this year as a second grader.
Sierra Foothill Charter School is a free, non-profit, TK-8 public school. For more informationabout its music or other programs, please contact the SFCS office at (209) 742-6222 or visit SFCS’s website: SierraFoothillCharterSchool.org. To stay up to date on all the latest happenings, “like” SFCS on Facebook.
