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Springs Notebook: Making Music Every Morning

Thu, 10/03/2024 - 07:29
The Springs School’s chorus teacher, Dylan Greene, left, and the band teacher, Ben Jones, right, help students like Saoirse Quinn and McKenzie O’Connell stay positive during early-morning music lessons.
Danielle Hamilton

Have you ever wondered what band and chorus life is like for students in fifth through eighth grade at the Springs School? Here’s a little taste.

To start, most students need to get up at 6 a.m. to practice before the official school day starts.

The music teachers, Ben Jones and Dylan Greene, encourage students to arrive with a positive attitude and a smile on their faces. They understand that it may be difficult for students to do so, but when they are able to, it makes a world of difference to the teachers.

Mr. Greene’s and Mr. Jones’s doors are always open to new talent. They said they love it when kids want to try something new.

In a recent interview, Mr. Jones said that he wants to teach students how to perform and enjoy music for the rest of their lives.

During an interview with Mr. Greene, he said he wanted to teach chorus because of his own history as a student at the school. “When I was a kid, I started chorus in fourth grade in Springs. It was a safe place, and it always felt like a place where I could be myself,” he said. “It was always a place to have fun and learn. When I got older, I was inspired to create that kind of classroom for my students.”

If any student is considering joining the music program but is still unsure, they should know that Mr. Greene loves bagel parties and playing bingo.

— Saoirse Quinn and McKenzie O’Connell, Grade 6

 

 

 

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