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ST. PAUL —
The St. Paul Schools Christmas program is an annual even that the entire town looks forward to from the start of the winter season. And honestly, who wouldn’t be excited to see adorable little kids singing their hearts out to christmas carols, and older, more advanced kids playing their instruments, pride in their success obvious in the way they carry themselves off the stage.
A fourth grade student, Irelyn Foley, said she’d been practicing for her part in the program for weeks.
“I got to play Jingle Bells on my recorder and then on a set of bells! Then I got to sing Go Tell it on the Mountain! That was my favorite part, getting to sing in front of all of those people!” she said.
When asked what she looked forward to in the next program, she said, “When i’m older like the bigger kids, I’ll get to play an actual instrument, like my big sister’s flute!”
While the kids thoroughly enjoy their part in the production, there’s a lot of work resting on the band director’s shoulders.
James Harris, band director at St. Paul schools, says that there’s a lot of thinking involved, not just practicing. He has to choose songs for each grade, develop a background for the stage, and this year he even set up a video presentation to play while the choir sang.
As a new member to the faculty, joining St. Paul only just last year, he wanted to follow the traditions that former teachers had laid before him. But, of course, you have to always add your own personality into everything you do, so he tried to incorporate more mallet playing and bells for the younger elementary kids to play. Which certainly was new, and provided an even cuter atmosphere.
The kids do tire quickly when practicing, they get restless and bored, so Mr. Harris gives them a period of games and relaxation in class afterwards.
“After we get through it, we relax and play games. But the real motivation is intrinsic. It’s within them, they want to express themselves and show the audience what they can do.” Mr. Harris said.
And at the end of the program, when people are leaving with their kids, after the traditional visit with Santa Claus, is when the students and Mr. Harris feel the most accomplished.
“To see the amount of excitement and satisfaction on the faces of my students is the most rewarding. When we finish the production, I saw the sense of accomplishment within my students.” Mr. Harris said.
Hopefully next year’s program will be equally, if not greater, fulfilling.
The St. Paul Schools Christmas program is an annual even that the entire town looks forward to from the start of the winter season. And honestly, who wouldn’t be excited to see adorable little kids singing their hearts out to christmas carols, and older, more advanced kids playing their instruments, pride in their success obvious in the way they carry themselves off the stage.
A fourth grade student, Irelyn Foley, said she’d been practicing for her part in the program for weeks.
“I got to play Jingle Bells on my recorder and then on a set of bells! Then I got to sing Go Tell it on the Mountain! That was my favorite part, getting to sing in front of all of those people!” she said.
When asked what she looked forward to in the next program, she said, “When i’m older like the bigger kids, I’ll get to play an actual instrument, like my big sister’s flute!”
While the kids thoroughly enjoy their part in the production, there’s a lot of work resting on the band director’s shoulders.
James Harris, band director at St. Paul schools, says that there’s a lot of thinking involved, not just practicing. He has to choose songs for each grade, develop a background for the stage, and this year he even set up a video presentation to play while the choir sang.
As a new member to the faculty, joining St. Paul only just last year, he wanted to follow the traditions that former teachers had laid before him. But, of course, you have to always add your own personality into everything you do, so he tried to incorporate more mallet playing and bells for the younger elementary kids to play. Which certainly was new, and provided an even cuter atmosphere.
The kids do tire quickly when practicing, they get restless and bored, so Mr. Harris gives them a period of games and relaxation in class afterwards.
“After we get through it, we relax and play games. But the real motivation is intrinsic. It’s within them, they want to express themselves and show the audience what they can do.” Mr. Harris said.
And at the end of the program, when people are leaving with their kids, after the traditional visit with Santa Claus, is when the students and Mr. Harris feel the most accomplished.
“To see the amount of excitement and satisfaction on the faces of my students is the most rewarding. When we finish the production, I saw the sense of accomplishment within my students.” Mr. Harris said.
Hopefully next year’s program will be equally, if not greater, fulfilling.
