About 120 third graders and their parents attended a PEAK Music Festival at Colonie Central High School on Saturday, Nov. 3. The students were from the South Colonie, North Colonie, and Guilderland school districts.
PEAK stands for “Parents, Educators, and Kids.” Students got to demonstrate their “peak” musical skills, and parents had a chance to “peek” into the elementary music curriculum. Participants attended a series of musical workshops: Singing, dancing, and classroom instruments. Clinicians were music teachers from the three participating school districts, and included South Colonie teachers Alicia Bouteiller (Roessleville and Veeder) and Erica Doran (Saddlewood and Shaker Road).
Courtesy of the John Keal Music Co., students also visited a musical “petting zoo.” Unlike a traditional petting zoo with animals, the musical petting zoo gave the children (and parents too!) the chance to try musical instruments. Since instrumental music begins in fourth grade, this was a great opportunity for students to begin thinking about what instrument they might want to play next year.
After a break for lunch, the day concluded with an informal performance. Parents performed alongside their children in a celebration of dance and song.