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| Music classes thrive at elementary schools |
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| Written by Maddy Houk / Patterson Irrigator / | |
| Wednesday, 19 March 2008 | |
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“It’s fun — we get to play instruments. My favorite part is singing.” — Aliva Okusi Apricot Valley Elementary School fifth-grader Music in schools isn’t just do, re, mi anymore.  Rhythm and rhyme: Above, Aliva Okusi sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” with other Apricot Valley Elementary fifth-graders early this month. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator It’s all part of Patterson Unified School District’s elementary school music program for first- through fifth-graders in the district. “This is the first time they have had music on the elementary level in 15 years,” said Elisa Flores, a first-year music teacher. Flores started teaching at the five district elementary schools in the fall. For a month at a time, students at each school site join her for 30-minute lessons that cover listening to music, singing patriotic songs and learning rhythms. Students also apply rhythmic notation and play on pitched instruments. “It’s fun — we get to play instruments,” said Aliva Okusi, 10. “My favorite part is singing.” Chyla Green, 10, said she likes the music and the singing. “I play the recorder and piano and follow the book,” she said. Brian Burns, 11, who said he has lived in other states, also is excited about the class. “I like it better than my old school,” Brian said. “I like the music better, too.” The fifth-graders reviewed notes earlier this month, clapping the rhythms and stopping at the musical rests. Then, they listened to the classical music piece “Capriccio Espagnol,” composed in 1887 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Flores asked the children to identify the sounds of the string, woodwind, bass and percussion instruments they heard. Changing musical styles, the class then heard “The Star Spangled Banner.”  Music teacher Elisa Flores leads the kids in counting and clapping musical notes. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator Students responded that the national anthem is played and sung at baseball games, hockey games and the Super Bowl. The class also practices playing recorders, and the fourth- and fifth-graders performed with them at this month’s Visual and Performing Arts event at the district office. Second- and third-graders play music on “boom whackers” — colorful, pitched tubes of different lengths that produce sounds when the students hit them on their hands. “It’s simple for the younger grades because it helps them focus on one note at a time,” Flores said. Flore teaches eight to 10 classes a day at each school site. A 2001 graduate of Livingston High School, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in music education in 2006 from California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock and her teaching credential from the same university in 2007. She plays the clarinet and also played the saxophone in her high school’s jazz band. Flores said the small-town atmosphere drew her to Patterson. “It’s my first teaching job, and it’s just been absolutely wonderful,” she said. “Everyone’s thrilled to have music in the schools — everyone’s been very supportive. I try to give the kids a good foundation that can carry on to whatever music aspect they decide to do.” A 2006 state Arts and Music Block Grant pays for the music classes. The money was allocated to school districts based on enrollment data, and in Patterson Unified, it pays for the elementary school music teacher’s salary, benefits and supplies. Each school also receives $2,500 for music. Next month, all fifth-graders on track in the district will travel to the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto on April 25. The Modesto Symphony Orchestra will present the educational concert “Green Eggs and Ham,” based on the Dr. Seuss book by the same name. Flores said it will be a great opportunity for her students to see an orchestra in person, because so far, they have seen only short videos in class of an orchestra playing. “We talk about the instruments in the orchestra, not only when they see it’s a clarinet, but when they hear it’s a clarinet,” she said. “But to see it in person is so different. Hopefully, it will tie in everything that we’ve learned.” To reach Maddy Houk at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail her at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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