今年度から多賀小学校の評議員の指名を受け、本日は２時間ほど役員の顔合わせを兼ねて全校児童の音楽会を見学しました。
音楽会では１年生から６年生まで、学年毎の合唱と器楽演奏の発表。まだあどけなさが残る１年生の元気な歌声と鍵盤ハーモニカ演奏は緊張のためか皆表情は硬く、学年が上がるにつれて少しずつ表情もほぐれ、リズムを顔や体でとっている子も増えていく。けれども、マスクをしたままの子もチラホラ。
私の頃は音楽が得意だった担任のK先生のお蔭でワーグナーの「双頭の鷲の旗のもとに」といった難しい曲を練習して発表したことも懐かしく思い出し、使う楽器も昔からのものもあれば新しいものもあり、選曲も昔とは違って楽しみました。手で振りをつけたりマーチングバンド風に動きをつけたり、指導の先生方の努力や工夫も見えました。動きをつけると子供達の表情が一気に楽しそうになります。
一つ残念だったのは、元気一杯はいいけど、音楽性が欠けていること。つまり曲の表情というか、強弱や語りかけの要素を低学年からつけるように指導すれば音楽を通して表現することが楽しめるのに、と思ったことです。人によって表現の手段は色々だけど、言葉だけが伝達手段でないことを音楽からも指導できるのになぁと思いました。
終わって、校長室でいただいた給食のカレーライスが美味しかったです！多賀小の給食はなかなかの評判というのが納得です。ご馳走さまでした！！
Since I was assigned to the board of trustees of Taga Elementary School from this year for three years, I went to the school to meet members and to watch the school recital today.
The school recital was for all grades and they presented chorus and instrumental music performance. The first graders were still little and looked stiff while they were performing. The more it progressed to the upper grades, the more relaxed they looked and were taking the rhythm, which showed in their faces or bodies. However, there were a few kids who were still wearing face masks.
I remembered my school days when we presented a music performance in class. My homeroom teacher was good at music and we performed J.F. Wagner's "Under The Double Eagle" which was a little bit challenging for us. I enjoyed the recital in which children played new instruments as well as traditional instruments which have been used at the school for decades. Sometimes they sang or played with hand movements or moved like a marching band, and it seemed the teachers put so much effort in teaching this. The children were smiling when they had some movements.
One thing I would like to comment on their performance is about the expression. The children were all very active but I felt that their sound lacked musicality. They can be taught the dynamics of the music from the first grade. Then kids learn what "Expression" is. Each one has their own way of expressing their thoughts or feelings and "Word" is not the only way to express them. They can learn about it through their music.
After the recital, Ms. Takahashi, who is the headmaster, provided us with the school lunch which used many local vegetables. It was so good! We all thanked the school.
.JPG)
