The Rocky Point Music Department hosted a series of “Introduction to the Instrumental Program” workshops for Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School’s 3rd grade students on June 10. Now in its third year, this event aims to recruit third grade students into the JAE Band and Orchestra instrumental programs.

The event utilized an “Instrument Petting Zoo” format, where several tables were set up based on the various instrument families (brass, woodwind, percussion, string) in the JAE Old Gym. After a brief introduction, the 3rd grade students listened to members of the 5th Grade Band and Orchestra perform short excerpts from their recent Spring Concerts. The 3rd grade students then rotated through the instrument stations where they explored the various instrument options available for them to select. This offered the 3rd grade students an up-close and personal experience, where they were able to see, hold, hear and play the instruments. This event supplied information so that 3rd grade students can make an informed decision about their instrument choice for next year. Members of the Music Department faculty contributed by overseeing each instrument station. Music staff members at the event included Secondary Music Department Chairperson and band director Amy Schecher and band directors Kyra Kenwood, Cailyn Monastero and Vinny Ragona, who each led sessions at the woodwinds, brass and percussion stations. Rocky Point orchestra directors Nick Butcher, Dave Ventura and Meghan Walter guided the students at the various tables for string instruments. Elementary Music Department Chairperson Craig Knapp planned and organized the event and served as host while guiding the students through the sessions.

One of the contributing factors to the success of this event was the inclusion of 5th Grade Band and Orchestra Student Ambassadors. The role of the 5th grade ambassadors included:

1. Helping to demonstrate their instruments and perform for the 3rd graders.

2. Assisting the 3rd grade student with playing the various instrument choices that are available for them to select.

3. Encouraging the 3rd grade students to consider joining the instrumental music program.

4. Providing the opportunity to have 3rd grade students see their older counterparts having fun playing their instrument and engaging in music making.

5. Speaking to the 3rd grade students about their instrument and about their experience playing in band or orchestra.

6. Acting as peer mentors to assist the younger students in making an informed decision when considering an instrument choice for next year.

Each workshop began with a brief introduction from Mr. Knapp, where students reviewed information about the various instrument families they have been learning about in weekly classroom music special area classes. The 3rd grade students then listened to short performances by the 5th Grade Band and Orchestra Student Ambassadors, led by Miss Monastero and Mr. Ventura. Students then rotated in small groups through the various stations and at the end of the session, all students received an informational packet explaining to the students and their parents how to make their instrument selections.

A message from Rocky Point Music Department Chairpersons Mr. Knapp and Ms. Schecher read: “We are very excited about introducing the third grade students to the JAE Instrumental Program! The students had a wonderful time rotating through the various stations and getting to see/hear the instruments that they have been learning about in their weekly special area music classes. We really hope this up-close and personal experience generated excitement for our students to play a band or orchestra instrument, and we feel that this experience was very valuable for the children. It is our desire that the “Instrument Petting Zoo” format greatly assisted the students in making an informed decision for their instrument selection. The entire day was very well-received by students and teachers. We are very happy about having 5th grade students assist with this special event. We really believe that having 5th grade members of band or orchestra acting in leadership roles is a crucial component for recruitment of our 3rd graders. It is also a great source of pride for our 5th grade band and orchestra members. The Student Ambassadors were so helpful and encouraging to the 3rd grade students. Thank you to our talented students for making this endeavor a positive one. We are also incredibly grateful to have such a hardworking and dedicated music department faculty contribute to the success of this day. We are thankful that the Rocky Point School District administration and Board of Education supports our instrumental program beginning in 4th grade.”

Thank you to the following 5th Grade Band and Orchestra Student Ambassadors for participating: Faith Abbe, Antonia Athanasakes, Kylie Beach, Dylan Borella, Alexa Bove, Samantha Casoria, Sonniell Colon, Henry Fiore, Krista Fiorio, Brandon Fox, Corrine Gabriel, Eleni Giagios, Jaileen Gomez, Liliana Gomez, Giovanni Guzman, Paige Houck, Jordan Jaeger, Iaroslav Lev, Sandy Martinez Arce, Katelyn Mercurio, Mya Metzler, Brionna Nace, Kayden Puckey, Autumn Roper, Hadley Schaentzler, Mariel Solano, Chase Stengel, Isabella St. Pierre, Abby Villafane-Kaplan and Mallack Walsh.

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Date Added: 6/14/2024

Members of Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School’s 5th Grade Select Chorus “High Notes” participated in the New York State School Music Association Major Organization Evaluation Festival on June 5 at Longwood High School. Like a NYSSMA Solo Festival, where students are adjudicated in a solo setting, the NYSSMA Major Organization Evaluation Festival evaluates an entire performing ensemble. Participation at NYSSMA Majors is a genuine way to obtain a true and authentic assessment of how the ensemble has performed.

The 5th Grade Select Chorus “High Notes,” led by JAE Chorus Director Mr. Craig Knapp, performed a Level 2 program. They performed three songs and were evaluated by two certified NYSSMA Major Organization adjudicators (with over 70 combined years of teaching experience). The students were evaluated on 8 categories, which include: tone, intonation, balance, technique, accuracy/execution, diction, interpretation, and influencing factors. The adjudicators provided written and oral feedback on these categories, informing the chorus what they did well, and offered recommendations for further developing their skills.

The 5th Grade Select Chorus “High Notes” received a rating of “Gold.” According to NYSSMA, a “Gold Rating” is awarded to organizations that have demonstrated an outstanding level of technical and artistic skill in each of the evaluative categories, including tone, intonation, balance, technique, accuracy/execution, diction, interpretation and influencing factors, for all three song selections. Any weakness in the musical performance will have been minimal. Recommendations will be given to further enhance their music performance skills.

A congratulatory message from Rocky Point Music Department chairpersons Mr. Knapp and Ms. Amy Schecher read: “The NYSSMA Major Organization Evaluation Festival is the culmination of the music learning process. This includes the hard work, dedication, commitment, process and progress the students have made and exhibited throughout the school year. Earning a rating of “Gold” is not an easy task. It requires a great level of discipline, skill, artistry and attention to detail. It also requires countless hours of rehearsal time. The students performed extremely difficult music for their age level, and we are very proud of their accomplishments. We are very lucky to teach music with such wonderful students and we are thankful to the parents for supporting their children. Thank you to all the administrators and Board of Education members in Rocky Point for continuing to support these forms of experiences for the students and the music department.”

Mr. Knapp added, “Congratulations to the JAE 5th Grade Select Chorus ‘High Notes’ for demonstrating such a high level of proficiency and earning this distinguished level of achievement. Participation at NYSSMA Majors is a truly authentic way to get a true evaluation of what the ensemble has achieved. NYSSMA-certified adjudicators evaluated the “High Notes” and offered written feedback, verbal comments and a rated assessment on their performance of the music. This event provided a great opportunity for the students to work toward a demanding goal of performing in a very different, unique and higher-pressure environment. This was essentially the 5th Grade Select Chorus final exam. I am beyond proud of my students for rising to the challenge!”

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Date Added: 6/7/2024

Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School held its second set of spring concerts at the High School auditorium for the 4th/5th Grade Chorus, 4th Grade Band, 5th Grade Select Chorus “High Notes” and 5th Grade Orchestra on May 30. The JAE 4th/5th Grade Chorus, under the direction of Mr. Craig Knapp, opened the show with a joyful, challenging and diverse program of songs, including their final piece, “Sahayta,” which included singing in 10 different languages! This piece featured soloists Casey Angelo, Sofia Behlen, Kendall Daly, Andrew DeTurris, Jaileen Gomez, Isabella Imeidopf, Kira Izzo, Logan Kantor, Kylie McGee, Michaela Minardi, Brionna Nace, Lillian Ozorio, Aria Soto and Phoenix Wilkinson.

The 4th Grade Band, under the baton of the newest member of the Rocky Point music department, Miss Cailyn Monastero, took the stage next and performed a delightful program. Selections included wonderful performances of familiar folk songs, including “Merrily We Roll Along,” which highlighted each of the three instrument families in the band, and “Rain, Rain,” which began with a student-created thunderstorm using a combination of body percussion with traditional unpitched percussion instruments. This was the first time a 4th Grade Band graced the stage in a Rocky Point concert in over 30 years! In between the 6 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. concerts, the audience had the pleasure of listening to the piano stylings of fifth grade student Alexander Lantigua-Mettrock, who performed the works of composers Claude Debussy, George Frideric Handel, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Robert Schumann and others. The audience was amazed with Alex’s ability, especially when he informed the crowd that he only started playing the piano about seven months ago!

The 5th Grade Select Chorus “High Notes,” under the direction of Mr. Knapp, performed next and shared the program they will be singing at their upcoming NYSSMA Major Organization Evaluation Festival. The JAE 5th Grade Orchestra, under the baton of Mr. Dave Ventura, performed very fun and difficult selections that included pieces ranging from the American folk song “Fiddler’s Hoedown” to a rock-style piece, “First Finger Rock.” All the performances were joyful, expressive and very successful. The enthusiastic audience reaction for each group displayed how proud the parents were of their children!

A congratulatory message from Rocky Point music department chairpersons Mr. Knapp and Ms. Amy Schecher read: “We are so proud of the JAE music students. The students have spent countless hours rehearsing before and after school. The have sharpened not only their music skills, but they also learned the importance of building teamwork while leading up to their performances. Special congratulations to Miss Monastero for doing a superb job leading her children in her first-ever concert as JAE 4th Grade Band director. It has been an extraordinary series of concerts for the Rocky Point School District this spring. The wonderful concerts the student musicians in all of our schools performed this spring is a true testament to their hard work, effort and dedication. We are very lucky to have such amazing students involved in the music program, and we are thankful to our industrious and energetic music staff and the parents for supporting their children in their involvement with the performing arts. Thank you to all of the administrators and Board of Education members in Rocky Point for their continued support of our music programs.”

“It has been a pleasure to observe the incredible progress made in only five months by the students in all of the JAE performing ensembles,” Mr. Knapp added. “It is a gift to work with Miss Monastero and Mr. Ventura. They are both very passionate, diligent and dedicated music educators. It’s a true team effort at JAE!”

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Date Added: 6/5/2024

Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School students had a special guest in their audience at the May 30 spring concert.

Miss Jeana Prentice worked as a student teacher under the leadership of Rocky Point music department chairperson and JAE’s chorus director Mr. Craig Knapp for two months this past winter. She graduated from The Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College the day of the concert and came directly from her graduation ceremony to support the student-musicians and enjoy their concert.

Date Added: 6/5/2024

Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School’s readathon to support the Madagascar Ankizy Fund took place from May 17 through May 31, and the Rocky Point community once again contributed to its success. Fourth graders celebrated the readathon outdoors under the trees with board games and classmates to honor this 26-year-old tradition that has raised money that was used to build The Rocky Point School in Madagascar in 2008.

JAE’S annual event, organized by fourth grade teacher Allison Licata, brings together all the fourth grade classes. Funds raised help cover teacher salaries; training in basic health, hygiene and nutrition; maintenance of clean water wells and distribution of mosquito nets, among other expenses.

Throughout the initiative, students were encouraged to secure sponsors to pledge funds for each page of a book read. Students Milo Hinst ($319), Athena Heaney ($167.60) and John Bishop ($130) were the top three fundraisers and were honored with a gift bag of goodies.

Founded in 1998 by paleontologist Dr. David Krause, the Madagascar Ankizy Fund’s mission is to provide education and health care to children living in remote areas of the island.

Date Added: 6/5/2024