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CES fourth graders score big in classical music

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

At a time when rock-and-roll and hip-hop are the popular music venues of the day, there still are places where young people learn to appreciate classical music.

Fourth grade students at Centre Elementary School recently participated in a special class project which culminated in a "Music Memory" competition Thursday at Kansas State University.

They spent several months in music class studying 16 classical compositions. They listened to and studied each piece and learned to identify it by title and composer.

Many of these weren't simple. Examples included: Hary Janos Suite: "Viennese Musical Clock" by Kodaly; Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 39. No. 15 by Brahms; Requiem: "Pie Jesu" by Faure; and Pines of Rome: "Pini di Villa Borghese" by Respighi.

According to their instructor, Lynley Remy, the students were excited about the project.

"They really got into it," she said. They used "maps" of symbols which helped them to learn the melody and beat of each composition.

At the end of the study, it took a week of testing to select the top five plus an alternate to participate in the competition.

The entire fourth grade class accompanied the winners Thursday to Manhattan to observe.

At least 31 schools competed in four rounds of testing. In the first two rounds, all of the Centre students got a score of 100 percent. At the end, they came out on top and were awarded a plaque.

At the Centre Elementary School (K-6) program Friday, the students will demonstrate their work.

According to Remy, the "Music Memory" competition is a voluntary, nationwide program.

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