One of my fondest memories of growing up in New York City in the 1960s was going to Lincoln Center for the “Young People’s Concerts,” conducted by Leonard Bernstein. Looking back, this early exposure to classical music was one of the formative experiences of my life, engendering a lifetime love of music of all kinds.

I was reminded of that experience this week when I dipped into John Rising’s sixth-grade general music class. John played a series of recordings: an 18th-century orchestral piece, an early solo work by Michael Jackson, and 15th century madrigal, “Donne, venite al ballo,” by Francesco Patavino.

Using a series of guiding questions, John encouraged his students to explore the similarities and differences among the three pieces. Employing what struck me as remarkably sophisticated vocabulary, the students talked of differences in instrumentation, of melody, and harmony. They identified which instruments supplied the beat, marked rhythmic variations, and described how differences in tempo and dynamics helped create contrasts in mood.

To watch John interact with these young students is to see a true master at work. And what a gift it is to be guided to a deeper appreciation of music by someone who knows and loves it!

Chris Garten
Head of School