Seuss-inspired concert at Hartley

The auditorium in Waseca School’s Central Building was filled to the brim with joyful noise during the Hartley Elementary School first- and second-graders’ Fall Concert, held the evening of Tuesday, November 15. The title of the concert was “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” inspired by the Dr. Seuss classic and “centered around what children might encounter or experience as they grow into adults,” according to programs provided to audience members.

Both parts of the concert began with a welcome from David Schmitt, Hartley’s Music Teacher, which he gave in both English and Spanish. The welcome address was followed by a pre-recorded video of the students reciting Dr. Suess’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go, each student or small group reciting one or two lines at a time. These introductions were followed by a program designed to show off the creative learning the students see in Schmitt’s classes.

The programs were composed mostly of folk music. In addition to singing, both groups danced, played instruments, and demonstrated rhythm patterns. The second-grade program demonstrated students’ beginning skills in reading musical notation. Both groups’ programs also included a song cooperatively composed by students. First-graders performed “What I’ll Bring with Me on a Trip,” composed by the students of Mrs. Miller and Ms. Holm. Second-graders performed “What I Will Be When I Grow Up,” composed by the students of Mrs. Guse and Mrs. Kubat. The composed songs were rhythmic, energetic, and at times silly – all encouraged by Schmitt in his work with students. Schmitt says his classes are structured to encourage exploration, improvisation, and self-evaluation as students build their music literacy skills.