
Coles
Elementary
School
celebrated
Music
in
Our
Schools
Month
with
a
fun
activity
that
encouraged
them
to
listen
and
reflect
on
eight
pieces
of
music.
After
analyzing
the
music,
students
picked
which
piece
they
liked
best.
The
songs
were
divided
into
a
tournament-style
bracket.
Students
were
given
a
few
days
to
listen
to
the
music
and
submit
their
votes.
While
listening,
students
were
asked
to
be
analytical
as
they
formed
their
musical
opinion
and
reflect
by
answering
questions
like
"Why
do
people
compose
and
perform
music?"
and
"Why
is
it
important
to
listen
to
different
types
of
music?"
Music
teacher,
Jon
Wilson
explained,
"I
chose
a
variety
of
musical
styles
and
settings
to
broaden
their
listening
experience.
On
the
other
hand,
I
chose
familiar
pieces
and
songs
so
that
the
activity
would
be
more
approachable."
In
the
first
round,
students
were
asked
to
compare
composer
John
Sousa's
"The
Washington
Post
March,"
performed
by
the
United
States
Army
Field
Band
to
another
Sousa
piece,
"The
Stars
and
Stripes
Forever"
performed
by
"The
President's
Own"
United
States
Marine
Band.
For
the
second-round,
students
listened
to
"The
Four
Seasons:
Spring"
and
"The
Four
Seasons:
Summer."
Both
pieces
were
written
by
composer
Antonio
Vivaldi
and
performed
by
violinist
Joshua
Bell
and
the
Academy
of
St.
Martin
in
the
Fields.
The
third
round
had
popular
favorites,
"What
a
Wonderful
World,"
written
and
performed
by
Louis
Armstrong,
and
"Somewhere
Over
the
Rainbow"
written
by
Harold
Arlen
and
Yip
Harburg
but
performed
by
Israel
"IZ"
Kamakawiwo'ole.
The
final
round
included
writer
Bobby
McFerrin's
"Don't
Worry
Be
Happy"
performed
by
Playing
for
Change
and
Pharrell
Williams'
"Happy"
performed
by
Deaf
Film
Camp
at
CM7,
a
group
that
uses
American
Sign
Language
(ASL)
in
their
video.
Wilson
shared,
"I
want
to
reinforce
that
music
is
about
communication
and
expression,
which
can
take
many
forms,
which
is
why
I
intentionally
chose
a
song
with
ASL."
The
championship
round
had
Vivaldi's
"The
Four
Seasons:
Summer"
versus
Kamakawiwo'ole's
rendition
of
"Somewhere
Over
the
Rainbow."
The
students
chose
"Somewhere
Over
the
Rainbow"
as
their
favorite
piece
of
music
from
the
competition.
The
students
enjoyed
the
activity.
A
fourth-grade
student
shared,
"I've
learned
that
you
can
always
listen
to
different
types
of
music,
because
you
might
say,
"I
really
like
that"
or
"I
like
that
one"
and
your
love
for
music
can
always
grow."
Wilson
appreciates
the
chance
to
celebrate
Music
in
Our
Schools
Month
with
his
students.
"It
reminds
people
of
the
importance
of
music
in
a
child's
education
for
social,
emotional,
and
intellectual
development.
Music
is
inseparable
from
culture.
It
ties
us
to
history
and
traditions
and
is
one
of
the
ways
in
which
we
connect
with
others,"
he
said.