Sometimes what we humans need most is a healthy dose of beautiful music and an old fashioned romp in the park! Fourth Grade Teachers Brooke Gelber and Anne Malamud took their students to the Marin Civic Center to hear a performance by the Marin Symphony, followed by lunch and playing outside by the lake at Lagoon Park. 

The program shared with us by the Marin Symphony was geared especially towards students, and included these pieces:

“Carnival Overture” by Antonín Dvořák 
“Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major” by Alexander Arutunian, featuring 17 year-old Jesse Chi from San Marin High School  - Winner of the Marin Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition
“Light Cavalry Overture” by Franz von Suppè 
“The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” by Benjamin Britten

In these days of Spotify and digital music, watching a real orchestra perform is a rich learning opportunity. Students enjoyed a 55-minute performance, during which they learned which instruments play the various roles in the orchestra, melody/accompaniment/rhythm, hearing the different sounds of each instrument, understanding how many of each instrument make up an orchestra, and even what the conductor looks like!

After weeks of rain, we were blessed by a clear sunny day, which gave us the opportunity to eat outside, run and play in the grass, and observe the wildlife that flocks to the waters at Lagoon Park. Now that’s what we call music to our ears!