Shore's Brand New Marimbas
By: Jennifer Boyum
Dr. John Feierabend, one of the leading authorities in Music Education, believes that “every student should be tuneful, beautiful, and artful.” How to achieve this goal is one of the unique challenges that music educators face. Some students step into the classroom with years of experience, while others are total novices. Generally speaking, most students fall somewhere in the middle; nevertheless, finding common ground and ways to keep students equally engaged and challenged is an integral part of the curriculum planning process. This is where Shore’s marimbas have played a significant role. These instruments are versatile. They can be easily adapted for both Lower School and Upper School students, beginners, and more advanced players alike. Marimba music can be arranged into simple two-part ostinatos, or a polyphonic arrangement of Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars.
Dr. John Feierabend, one of the leading authorities in Music Education, believes that “every student should be tuneful, beautiful, and artful.” How to achieve this goal is one of the unique challenges that music educators face. Some students step into the classroom with years of experience, while others are total novices. Generally speaking, most students fall somewhere in the middle; nevertheless, finding common ground and ways to keep students equally engaged and challenged is an integral part of the curriculum planning process. This is where Shore’s marimbas have played a significant role. These instruments are versatile. They can be easily adapted for both Lower School and Upper School students, beginners, and more advanced players alike. Marimba music can be arranged into simple two-part ostinatos, or a polyphonic arrangement of Snow Patrol's Chasing Cars.
From a curricular perspective, it is easy to simplify complex musical concepts such as syncopation, dotted rhythms, and triplets by simply placing a mallet in a student's hand. These instruments are also meant to be played in a group or ensemble. This lends itself to teaching a whole host of skills, including active listening, collaboration, critical thinking, and perseverance. Simply put, these instruments are excellent for fostering cooperation among students and improving musical skills. Plus, they sound great in a concert setting!
Want some history? Shore’s first set of marimbas arrived in 2013, purchased by then-Lower School teacher Jenny Lienhard, and were quickly folded into the music program. Our original set of marimbas were built by Tom Bourne, founder of Bourne Marimbas, in Bellingham, Washington. As King Dahl Creative puts it, “Bourne’s marimba designs have set the standard for classroom music programs throughout the United States and internationally, and sound as wonderful as they look!”
As you can imagine, it's fun to play these instruments and equally hard not to play with enthusiasm. It is understandable, therefore, that our original set of marimbas started to show signs of wear and tear after a decade of daily use. Buying a second set of marimbas was vital. Thanks to S.A.I.L. Teacher and Arts Department Chair Betsey Holland's advocacy and generous contributions from families, grandparents, alumni, and employees, we now have a second set of marimbas, and our older instruments have received some much-needed repairs.
Looking ahead, Lower School Music Teacher Lauren Notas and I look forward to finding new and creative ways of incorporating these instruments into Shore’s music programs. We are resonating with gratitude. Thank you for keeping the beat alive!
Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.