The Sounds of Music at Hamden Hall
By Kathleen Ramunni
Hamden Patch
Violin, clarinet, saxophone, snare drum – which to choose?
Hamden Hall Country Day School students in grades 4, 5 and 6 received an up-close-and-personal demonstration recently of instruments available to them to learn to play for participation in the Lower School Band and strings program.
Hamden Hall instrumental directors David Perry and Jane Mitchell, both recent grads of the Yale School of Music, were on hand to showcase each instrument (Perry played a mean jazz riff on the sax!) and provide a brief music lesson on the various instrumental families to which each belongs.
“I started playing the violin when I was 4 or 5 years old,” Ms. Mitchell told the students seated in front her as she demonstrated her craft. “It takes a lot of practice – even at home, not just in school.”
Promising musicians will meet twice a week during the school year to practice, learn and play together in an ensemble setting. Performances include events both on and off campus.
