LOWER LAKE – Students at Lower Lake Elementary (LLES) were privilege to a special day of music on Friday. “String Family” day featured classroom lessons that taught students to identify various stringed instruments followed by a musical performance by a very talented group of musical veterans and students.
The opportunity was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Susan Condit, who teaches kindergarten at LLES, and Martha Miller, who provides musical instruction in the Konocti school district. Miller assumed Condit”s classroom duties, which allowed her to spend the day sharing music with students in all grades.
Students were exposed to basic education in the classroom first. They learned how to identify various stringed instruments and the sounds they make. “They really liked the learning sessions and they learned a lot about string instruments,” Andi Skelton, director of the Konocti Fiddlers” Club said. “We brought in a cello and an upright bass that I don”t think a lot of them had ever seen before.”
Following the classroom lessons, which were presented to students in all grades, kindergarten through sixth, including special education, the Konocti Fiddlers played two assembly performances. The group, consisting of musical mentors, district educators and students from seven years to college-age, showcased all the sounds made by the instruments the students had learned about early in the day.
The performance was comprised songs featuring fiddles and guitars as well as some that included the banjo, mandolin and Irish flutes and drums. Student Lars Tinsell, 12, picked at the banjo during a couple familiar songs like “Shortin” Bread” and “O Susanna” while student Erin Call picked up the mandolin for “Stinky”s Blues.”
Call said her favorite song to play is the Irish Medley the group performed. “That”s always been my favorite. I”m part Irish and I really like the heritage,” she said.
Eleanor Cook took a day off from classes at Holy Name College in Oakland to join the group for the special presentation at LLES. Cook is majoring in music therapy and said seeing the children”s reaction to the music helps her gain better understanding in her career path.
Konocti Fiddlers” performance included students Call, Tisell, Clayton Ridiger, 12; Dimitri Imbrunetti, 7; Brooke Taliaferro, 10; and Nina Jekel, 6. Adult musicians, mentors and educators included Director Andi Skelton, LLES teacher Susan Condit, Patricia Jekel, Greg Bushta, Deni Hagy, Carl Stewart, Austin Isou and Jeanine Mullen-Isou.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly 994-6444, ext. 11
