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by Jodie Brown

With the Spring Concert successfully behind us, SRV's children (from kindergarten up) and I are talking about and planning for the last Performance Day of the year. For most kindergartners, this will be a first experience with solo musical performance in front of classmates and friends. For other children, it is a much -- awaited event and one that inspires adventurous musical explorations throughout the year. For me, Performance Days are a window into the 'other' musical worlds of the children whom I teach each week and a chance to share in the musical skills of which they may feel most proud.

There are many reasons why we have Performance Days. Confidence building through risk taking is one of the biggest. The comfort level attained by children through repeated exposure to performance opportunities has a remarkable impact on them as they grow up. Those of us who, as adults, still quake at the thought of having to speak or do anything in front of a group can surely appreciate the value of learning to be composed in that type of situation. The children at SRV, almost without exception, find being in front of an audience to be a natural state!

One of my favorite reasons for having Performance Days has to do with the children's responses to each other's performances. Since many children share a talent during these times that was either previously unknown or only talked about to their friends and teachers, there is a great deal of encouragement and praise given. The words "I didn't know you could......" are very often heard. Children invest themselves not only in performing, but also in being respectful and supportive audience members.

Probably the most interesting facet of Performance Days can be observed as children progress through their years at SRV. In kindergarten, ballerinas, singers, tap dancers, drummers and a myriad of other types of musical performers anxiously step forward to demonstrate something musical that's dear to them. First and second graders may begin to take the experience quite seriously, planning 'acts' with friends or involving parents in preparing ahead of time. Children in the third and fourth grade years are likely to feel competent playing 'real' music on an instrument or singing solos. By the time these same performers reach 5th or 6th grade, the styles and venues of the offerings have changed ten-fold (or more) but are nonetheless amazing. Performance Days across the span of years in elementary school are truly a fascinating study in child development.

Now that you've read this promotional piece, please jump on the bandwagon and encourage your child/children to participate in the upcoming Performance Days during the week of April 19-23. As always, you are invited to attend (they take place during regular music class times). Please just let me know that you're coming so that I can make sure to have enough chairs!

As always, I'm looking forward to a week of musical entertainment and enlightenment. I hope you'll join us!