LAPS elementary students gather at Mountain School for the first District Elementary Choir Workshop. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) elementary students gathered at Mountain Elementary School earlier this fall for the first District Elementary Choir Workshop hosted by the LAPS elementary music teachers.
Students from all LAPS elementary choir clubs were invited to advance their singing skills and sing in a large choir, led and accompanied by members of the music team.
Around 100 students participated in the workshop, and spent the time working on three pieces of music, including Who Has Seen the Wind by Mark Patterson; Mama Don’t Allow by Brian Lewis; and Cumbara by Dave and Jean Perry.
Valerie Collins, music teacher at Barranca Mesa Elementary, proposed holding two workshops as an opportunity for students to work together on songs and to increase participation in choir. “Our numbers in choir really suffered after the COVID closure and singing mask mandates,” explained Galina Austin, the music teacher at Mountain Elementary. “All the music teachers in the district supported this idea.”
During the Summer Institute hosted in July by LAPS, Ms. Collins and Ms. Austin completed all documentation, repertoire and other logistics for all General Music Collaborative Events. As the music teacher at Mountain, Ms. Austin prepared for the workshop and acted as hostess. Other elementary music teachers helped with the setup, music practice and running of the workshop.
Teachers commented that it was a great experience and they can’t wait to do it again. “We enjoyed it as much as our students.”
The other LAPS music teachers who helped with the workshop are Jacob Lucero, Aspen Elementary; Megan Tholen, Chamisa Elementary; and Nic Montoya Valdez, Pinon Elementary.
The next choir workshop will be held March 8, 2023 during Spring Parent/Teacher conferences at Chamisa Elementary. Students will continue practicing the three songs introduced at the first workshop and a few new pieces of choral music. They will perform during the district Music and Arts Festival in May.
