Click here to see a slide show
Rachel McDaniel, 11, put her lips to the trumpet and blew hard. It took a moment for sound to come out the other end.
“Buzz your lips. Can you do that?” asked Michele Howard, a professional trumpet player visiting Sts. Joan of Arc and Patrick School.
The fifth-grader made another attempt with the instrument, this time holding a musical note.
“It was harder than it looks,” Rachel noted. “I couldn’t get my lips to buzz.”
Rachel was participating in a musical petting zoo, Tuesday, hosted by the Book Readers and Horn Blowers.
The non-profit organization travels to schools promoting literacy and music. During the Tuesday visit, the group gave a presentation on jazz legend Louis Armstrong, speaking about his life and playing his music for grades three to eight.
“It sort of invigorates arts education,” Howard said. “I believe learning music helps with cognitive development.”
She said music helps with mathematics, group and listening skills. Book Readers selects different American icons and plays brass instruments according to the era. This school year they chose Louis Armstrong.
Armstrong is a “rags-to-riches story,” Howard said. She believes his story teaches children that “if you focus and work hard on something, you will really excel.”
The children seemed to get the message.
“You have to practice and never give up because sometimes if you can’t get the hang of it you give up and you won’t earn how to play the instrument,” Rachel said.
Fifth-grade students also had the opportunity to learn more about several musical instruments.
“I’m kind of a B.B. King fan,” said Seth Wexler, 11.Seth said he does like jazz, but prefers guitars to horns. “I wouldn’t like playing it all day every day,” he said. “[But] it was kind of cool.”
Dylan Shook, 10, said the Louis Armstrong story helped teach him “to be courteous, respectful and don’t brag about [talent.]”
“I thought it was cool to learn about something else in music,” said Annie Boytim, 11.
Fifth-grade teachers Peggy Rethlake and Becky Hinkle felt their students gained a great deal by participating in the musical event.
“This was worth the time. It was a nice treat for the students,” Hinkle said. “At this age they’re impressionable,” Rethlake added. She said exposing children to the arts will help make them more rounded.
The event was funded by the Community Foundation of Howard County.
Local News
Related Photos
-
KT photo
Discussion
SLIDE SHOW: Horn Blowers, Facing the Music
Horn Blowers introduce local students to music
- Local News
-
-
Venue change doesn't deter crowds from Chocolate Celebration
It was a different shell for Kokomo’s biggest candy event, but the chocolaty tastes and aromas inside were the same as always.
-
Walk will honor shooting victims
Following a string of random shootings that left two Kokomo residents dead and three others hospitalized, several members of the shaken community have been moved to organize a Peace Walk to pray for the victims and their families.
-
Peru to cut 2012 budget
The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance issued a mandate last week requiring the city of Peru to cut $783,000 from its 2012 budget.
-
Haynes records $8.4M profit
Earnings fell short of what Haynes International Inc. originally expected for its first fiscal quarter of 2012, as the company profited $8.4 million.
-
Brady’s admission catches NFL off guard
NFL Super Bowl officials were hoping to score some major media attention with the arrest of a “web pirate” accused of illegally streaming sporting events over the Internet.
-
Haynes International posts $8.4M profit
The Kokomo-based high-performance-alloy manufacturer's profits are up more than $3 million from a year earlier.
-
Crash claims one
A 21-year-old Sharpsville woman died at the scene of a single-vehicle crash on U.S. 31 near the Tipton-Howard county line, which was one of two serious crashes in Howard County Thursday.
-
Newville is found guilty in rape case
Jurors in Howard Circuit Court took just four hours Thursday afternoon to convict 49-year-old Steven Newville of attempted rape, criminal confinement, battery and receiving stolen property.
-
The Material Girl comes to Indianapolis
Suddenly, she arrived, with her famous bleach blond hair, the almond-shaped eyes, the ruby-red lips.
Madonna, in the flesh, was standing in front of about 500 media members, in Indianapolis.
-
Police: Struggle leads to K-9 bite
A man police say punched and choked a police K-9 during a foot chase Wednesday faces multiple charges, including battery on a police service animal.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
