Somerville schools share the music
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Music teacher Adam Epstein rehearses with first graders for this week’s winter concert in the new auditorium at the East Somerville Community School. – Photo by Elizabeth Sheeran

By Elizabeth Sheeran

No matter what kind of holiday you’re celebrating this time of year, Somerville school kids are ready to bring music to your ears.

The Somerville Public Schools’ winter concert season opened last week with Friday’s kindergarten performance at the Capuano Early Education Center, followed by last night’s concert at the Brown School. After a full roster of school music events this week and next, the season will eventually wrap-up with a Martin Luther King -themed concert at the Kennedy School in late January.

At the East Somerville Community School, which finally re-opened this year after a devastating 2007 fire, this Friday’s winter concert will be the first in the school’s new 350-seat auditorium. “It’s definitely a big moment for us,” said music teacher Adam Epstein. “This year we’ll all be under one roof again for the first time.”

The state-of-the-art East Somerville auditorium will also play host to Thursday’s All City Middle School Concert, and to the second annual El Sistema Community in Harmony event next week. Last year’s middle school concert had to be moved to Tufts University when Hurricane Sandy damaged the Somerville High School auditorium, leaving staff scrambling to find alternate performance space on short notice. With the high school auditorium still out of commission these days, Somerville High music students will perform in the field house next week.

Somerville music teachers said the winter concert tradition is not so much about performing seasonal music. It’s more about capping off the first part of the school year by showcasing work the students have been doing since September.

“It’s a chance to share with the community the progress the students have made, before they go off for the winter break,” said Epstein. “We like to give our students as many chances as possible to practice performing, which is an important skill for them to build.”

Cathy Ward, a new music teacher this year at the Brown and Capuano schools, said the department sets citywide learning goals for music students, and teachers choose musical selections that fit the curriculum. “Something really special about the Somerville Music Department is that we focus on the process and not so much on the end-product,” said Ward. “Somerville is ahead of the game in terms of finding new ways to engage students in learning music.”

The Somerville Public Schools’ philosophy is that every student can and should benefit from music education, regardless of ability. In younger grades, every student will perform in the winter concerts. And at the middle and secondary school levels, vocal and instrumental performance ensembles are open to every student who wants to participate.

But that doesn’t mean the musically gifted don’t get a chance to shine. Epstein said the music program is one more way students can hone a talent in an area they can excel in, and that’s especially important for kids who don’t always stand out in traditional academics.

“For many students, performing music is one of their greatest joys at school,” said Epstein.

And any time of year is the right time for a little joy.

Somerville Public Schools 2013-2014 Winter Concerts:

Friday, December 6, 9:15 a.m., Capuano Early Childhood Center*

Tuesday, December 10, 6:30 p.m., Brown School, at West Somerville Neighborhood School*

Thursday, December 12, 7 p.m. All City Middle School Concert, East Somerville Community School

Friday, December 13, 8:30 a.m., East Somerville Community School

Tuesday, December 17, 9:15 a.m., Winter Hill Community Innovation School

Tuesday, December 17, 6:30 p.m., El Sistema “Community in Harmony,” East Somerville Community School

Thursday, December 19, 9:15 a.m., Healey School

Thursday, December 19, 9:15 a.m., West Somerville Neighborhood School

Thursday, December 19, 7 p.m., Somerville High School, Field House

Friday, December 20, 9:15, Argenziano School

Thursday, January 30, 2014, 6:00 p.m., Kennedy School

For more information go to www.somerville.k12.ma.us.

*Concert date prior to Somerville Times print publication