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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.
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SLIDE SHOW: Horn Blowers, Facing the Music
Horn Blowers introduce local students to music
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