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Thursday, December 10, 2009

Rise and Shine --- Holiday music

Good Morning and welcome to the No Tiger Woods Zone!

It doesn't take much to get me in the holiday spirit. I fight it, but when those decorations show up in September, I have to take a look.
Sure, I would rather wait until Thanksgiving, but it appears that's no longer allowed.
Last night was all about the holiday season.
The Upper Darby School District gets a bum rap (much of it deserved) mostly because of the large classes. The school year is more about testing and reaching those state scores than it is about learning and challenging. Of course, that's probably the case in most public schools these days (Thanks, GWB, that 'No Child Left Behind' is a stroke of genius).
The Upper Darby music program, though, is second to none. The teachers really seem to to care about the students. They get the children involved in music in first grade and keep it going through the years.
After taking in our fourth Winter Music Festival at Garrettford Elementary Wednesday night, I was more impressed with the music program than ever.
Several students were able to carry solos, be it violin, flute or whatever. The holiday songs crossed all lines from classical, to hanukkah, to the standards.
The stereotype of children banging on musical instruments to smiling parents is not the case in Upper Darby. These students really can play, from the front of the room to the back.
Teachers too often get a bad rap, but here's a big thumb's up to music teachers Martin Hyde and Linda Pennington.
It almost makes me wish I was back in grade school.
Well, except for the tests.

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