
"Oh
xylophones!"
a
student
exclaimed
with
delight
as
he
entered
the
music
classroom
at
King
Elementary
School.
The
excitement
of
playing
a
musical
instrument
was
not
the
only
highlight
that
made
this
day
in
music
class
fun,
a
virtual
field
trip
to
the
Hylton
Performing
Arts
Center
(HPAC)
also
kept
students
engaged.
The
HPAC's
"Songs
of
Streets
and
Sunshine:
Brooklyn
with
Dan
and
Claudia
Zanes"
virtual
field
trip
is
proving
to
be
an
excellent
teaching
resource
for
Dawn
Williams,
King
Elementary's
music
teacher.
"The
videos
from
the
Zanes
do
a
great
job
of
including
movement,
singing,
and
playing
parts
that
the
students
can
learn
and
do
with
each
song.
They
fit
perfectly
in
with
what
we
are
learning
in
second
grade,"
Williams
explained.
The
xylophone
was
not
used
by
the
Zanes
in
their
performance;
however,
the
structure
of
their
songs
made
it
easy
for
Williams
to
incorporate
the
xylophone
along
with
unpitched
percussion
instruments
into
lessons
about
beats,
rhythm,
and
harmony.
The
Zanes'
HPAC
virtual
performance
includes
seven
educational
videos
for
classroom
teachers.
Before
performing
each
song,
they
provide
background
information
about
the
music.
Williams
appreciates
this
addition,
"Being
able
to
connect
what
we're
learning
to
the
real
world
helps
engage
the
students
in
a
way
that
is
meaningful."
Grammy-award-winning
musician
Dan
Zanes
and
his
wife,
Claudia
Zanes,
a
jazz
vocalist,
are
well-known
in
the
realm
of
family
music.
When
the
pandemic
canceled
live
musical
performances,
living
under
the
same
roof
was
an
advantage
for
the
Zanes.
It
made
it
easy
for
the
husband-and-wife
duo
to
continue
sharing
their
music.
"When
we
figured
out
the
technologies,
it
became
exciting
to
have
the
chance
to
reach
people
all
around
the
country
without
the
time
and
money
needed
to
travel.
Our
ability
to
connect
with
audiences
increased
and
our
need
to
put
on
shoes
decreased,"
the
musical
couple
explained.
Marit
Majeske,
HPAC
education
coordinator,
shared,
"We
strive
to
offer
opportunities
that
may
not
otherwise
be
available
to
teachers
through
engaging
with
our
Hylton
Presents
and
Hylton
Family
Series
artists
and
other
professional
local
and
national
artists.
We
hope
that
this
enhances
the
outstanding
work
being
done
by
PWCS
teachers."
Registration
is
required
for
participation,
but
this
virtual
field
trip
is
free
for
elementary
school
teachers.