NEW ROCHELLE, NY — A new singing group for fourth and fifth graders at the Daniel Webster Magnet School has attracted dozens of students who are having a great time singing their favorite pop and rap songs.
“A lot of my friends like to sing and we thought it would be a fun opportunity to do it with more people,” said fifth-grader Caroline Bach, a member of the group.
Vocal music teacher Heidi Jaye, the group leader, said her aim is to focus not so much on the nuts and bolts of scales, keys and so on, but on allowing the students to have fun.
“The real reason for starting this was to create a passion for music,” she said. And she has found students brimming with energy for the group. What began with 20 members quickly expanded to about 50.
Jaye started them off with the song, “Best Day of My Life” by American Authors. From there, she let the students choose the rest, which turned out to be modern pop songs such as “Counting Stars,” by OneRepublic and “Home” by Phillip Phillips. And the students love it.
“I know a lot of songs, and this seemed like a lot of fun,” said fifth-grader Alba Zamarbide.
By Monday, they had begun showing off their rap skills.
“Ms. Jaye said there’s going to be a lot of hip-hop and stuff, and that’s what I’m into,” said Anderson Krasner, a fifth-grader. At the rehearsal, the students tackled the song “My Shot” from the smash musical Hamilton.
“In class, they learn choral arrangements, songs in a foreign language and songs in a minor key,” Jaye said. “But here they get to do what they want. Who knew these kids could rap?
