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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The sixth-grade sang a variety of songs, including a Shaker folk song and a song in Portuguese. The played a range of tempos as well, such as the slower song "How Beautiful is the Rain?" and quicker song "Mama Don't 'Low No Banjo."
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The choir welcomed different accompaniments during their concert. Many songs had a piano feature, some had a drum beat and one used a rainstick. Pictured, a student played the rainstick during "How Beautiful is the Rain?"
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.The fifth- and sixth-grade students of Austintown schools performed at their spring concert on March 10. Music teacher Megan Keown directed the students.
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Neighbors | Zack Shively.Choir teacher Megan Keown challenged the students with tough songs, some of which had three parts. Pictured, the students sang a song in Swahili while two students played rhythmic instruments.
By ZACK SHIVELY
Fifth- and sixth-grade students from Austintown’s intermediate and middle schools filled the Fitch auditorium with vocal melodies at their choir concert on March 13.
Choir teacher Megan Keown directed the bands. She challenged both of the groups with songs performed in English and other languages as well.
Keown said that her students call the concert “the kindness concert.“ The concert was free to the public, although they had a donation box outside the auditorium. These donations went toward the school’s food pantry to help local families.
The fifth-grade sang “Chicken on a Fence Post“ and a more challenging song with three chords. She said that she rewarded the students for working so hard by adding “How Far I’ll Go“ from the movie “Moana.“ They finished their set of songs with a song in Swahili.
The sixth-grade sang folk song “Ezekiel Saw the Wheel,“ “How Beautiful is the Rain?“ and a variation of the Shaker folk song “Simple Gifts.“ They then sang a Brazilian song in Portuguese called “Who taught you to swim?“ They finished their show with “Mama Don’t ‘Low No Banjo.“
The group used some different instrumental accompaniments during their performances. Most songs had a piano with the choir. A student played a drum during the Portuguese and Swahili songs. “How Beautiful is the Rain?“ featured a rainstick to create a rain sound.
Koewn made sure the parents and children met safely in certain parts of the building after the concert. The students began preparing for their next concert, a show with an 80s theme, following their concert.