There are so many things I want to say about our day at PS 22, I don’t even know where to begin. As a future music educator, I was touched by Mr. B and the kids at PS 22. The most rewarding thing as a teacher is seeing your students enjoy what they are learning. The 5th graders at PS 22 love everything about singing and their joy is infectious. Knowing that in some way Ithacappella has made their lives a little bit better warms my heart and makes me smile.
One of the students asked us if we ever feel shy when we’re on stage (another FANTASTIC question!). It is so much easier to have fun on stage when you can look out into a crowd of 65 5th Graders and see 65 smiles. Something about their response to our performance was electrifying. The energy in the room was palpable.
When talking with Mr. B at the pizza place (Zio Nino’s by the way…) he told us that one of the things he focuses on when teaching songs to the kids is the emotion behind the text. Sometimes when listening to pop songs you forget that there is real meaning behind the words. What Mr. B wants is for the audience to press a “mute button” for the chorus’s sound, and still understand what emotion they are trying to portray. They absolutely succeeded, as they always do. When you see them on Youtube performing with huge energy and soul you think its great, but it’s nothing like seeing them perform live. Watching them do “Halo” by Beyonce was mind-blowing. The soloist was phenomenal and each and every student was emoting more than our group ever has.
Being at PS 22 for even the few short hours we were there was inspiring, moving, and fulfilling. Mr. B is a fantastic mentor for all of us future educators whether he knows it or not.
PS. My stomach is still full from devouring two penne vodka slices of pieces at Zio Nino’s and half of one of Mr. B’s slices that he donated to me afterward. Definitely a fully successful day full of fun and foooooood!
