Friday, February 5, 2021
Vol. 81, No. 6
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SERVING PLAINVIEW, HICKSVILLE, AND LEVITTOWN
HELPING THE BOOK FAIRIES
New music software helps students enhance their skills BY GARY SIMEONE
Hicksville High School's National Honor Society recently held a book drive to benefit The Book Fairies. Above, students work together to pack up donations. Photo courtesy Hicksville School District
Town expands outdoor ice skating
The Town of Oyster Bay has added a public skating session at its outdoor ice skating rink at Marjorie Post Community Park in Massapequa. Throughout the month of February, this facility will offer a 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. session for skaters to enjoy. “Ice skating is a fun, naturally social distanced activity, and there remain current limitations on activities residents and their families can enjoy,” said Town Councilman Tom Hand. Capacity is limited at each
Town rink, and face masks must be worn at all times. The Town of Oyster Bay operates three ice skating facilities, two outdoor and one indoor. The outdoor ice rinks are located at Marjorie Post Park, Unqua and Merrick Roads in Massapequa, and at Syosset-Woodbury Community Park, 7900 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury. Outdoor public sessions are available on Thursdays (at Marjorie Post as of February 4th) from 4–6 p.m.; Fridays from 4–6 p.m. and
7–9 p.m., Saturdays from 1–3 p.m., 4–6 p.m. and 7–9 p.m., and Sundays from 1–3 p.m. and 4–6 p.m. The Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center is located within Bethpage Community Park at 1001 Stewart Avenue, in Bethpage. The indoor rink is open for public skating on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4–6 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m.–12 p.m., Fridays from 4–6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1–3 p.m. and 3:30–5:30 p.m.
The Mid-Island Times & Levittown Times is Published every Friday by Litmor Publishing Corp. Periodical Postage paid at Hicksville, N.Y. 11801 Tel 931-0012. USPS 3467-68 Postmaster: Send Address Changes to: The Mid Island & Levittown Times 821 Franklin Ave., Suite 208, Garden City, N.Y. 11530. Meg Norris Publisher
The sound of music is even sweeter in Hicksville, as Hicksville Middle School students have been utilizing new software to help them with their piano playing skills. The software, known as SoundTrap, is an online digital audio workstation that allows users to explore and create their own music. Middle School music teachers Caroline Calleo and Adam Nadler introduced the program to the students doing both in-person and remote learning. Nadler, a piano lab teacher, said the online program helps students take the skills they’ve learned playing piano to another level. “It’s a wonderfully innovative program in that it allows students to take skills they’ve learned and add their own creative touch to it,” said Nadler. “They can put together an original modern masterpiece right from their Chromebooks. It will definitely be a fun addition to the piano lab program moving forward.” The SoundTrap program, which is part of the Spotify platform, holds a virtual library of prerecorded loops that allows students to mix with different instruments to create their own original music. Calleo said it’s a great tool for in-person learning, but a game changer for students doing remote learning who might not have access
to a piano. “They’re able to stay involved with the program’s built-in piano software," said Calleo. “Students doing remote learning can record themselves using their computer keyboards, simulating the notes and hand positions as if using real piano.” Jaylen Rodriguez, an eighth-grader at the school, said he enjoys the benefits of the program because it helps fine tune his piano skills. “I really enjoy it because I can make a piece of music combining different sounds with rock, electronic and techno combined into one,” said Rodriguez. “It’s also great for students who struggle playing an instrument, as they can use the app to learn how to play the piano and create their own composition.” For students who are doing in-person learning, the program allows them to plug a cable into their Chromebooks and record themselves playing the piano. The recording goes into the software, where they’re able to generate their own unique beat or sound. Aesha Bhavsar, a seventh grader, said she enjoys the freedom the program gives her to come up with her own unique sounds. “I found the SoundTrap software very fun to use because I like to experiment with a variety of different sounds to make different tunes,” said Bhavsar.
Local runners score in marathon PAGE 4 Town to renovate ballfields for spring
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