Music at Southwest Elementary

from Cardinal Connection - Spring 2023

‘the LAw’ roboticS tea M Goes to FR c c ha M pionship

So many wonderful musical things have been happening at Southwest Elementary in the music room! The second grade students had a fantastic concert in March about the great outdoors! The first grade students also had a great production of “HATS - A Musical that Celebrates What’s Underneath!” The Kindergarten students’ concert was on Thursday, Apr. 13, “Gettin’ Down With Mama Goose!” So lots of productions have been going on and the students are doing great work! Southwest Singers will have a spring concert combined with Mrs. Covey’s 5th and 6th grade choir, the Cardinal Chorale, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 in the Sellers Performing Arts Center.

Third and fourth grade students have diligently worked on Recorder Karate! Each song they learn and play earns them a belt that’s tied onto the bell of their instrument.

Lastly, March is Music in Our Schools month. Each student participated in a “WHY MUSIC?” bulletin board outside the music classroom. Students wrote on a colored piece of paper, stating why they love music or why music is important to them. Their answers are wonderful! Here are some of things they wrote: “I love music because it pumps me up before a wrestling match,” “Music brings people together,” “We need music because it uses every subject!”

Covey began teaching in 2008. The previous top ratings were given in 2014 and 2017. Prior to those years, 2006 was the last time a choir from Lawson received top honors.

DISTRICT SOLO/SMALL ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL

A few weeks later, on Apr. 1, 11 vocal soloists performed in the MSHSAA District Solo/Small Ensemble Festival at Liberty High School. Each student prepared two contrasting solos to perform from memory in front of a judge. The judge rated the soloist on musical and technical components, similar to the large ensemble festival. For the first time since 2019, two vocalists qualified to advance to the MSHSAA State Solo/Small Ensemble Festival held on the Mizzou campus on Thursday, Apr. 27. Aleah Johnson (9) and Hunter Thompson (10) both received Exemplary Gold ratings and will be advancing to state. Ava Briegel (11), Jocelyn Hazlett (11), Haley Hollon (11), Haley Lewis (10), Joanna Mayne (9), Carsyn McPheeters (12), Cade Shafer (11), Cara Siebert (10), and Jacklyn Thompson (10) all received Outstanding Silver ratings on their solos. This is the largest number of soloists Mrs. Covey has had compete at the District Festival.