By Ron Mallory

Music Teacher

 

 

Not only do I enjoy creating things myself, I also love observing and learning about the creative processes of others. For me, this includes everything from reading biographies of famous artists and musicians to listening to the director's commentary tracks on the DVD's I own. And one of the joys of my work at Forest Ridge is the opportunity to watch students on their own creative journeys.

 

This fall I've seen creativity at work in our handbell students as they prepare the music for our upcoming holiday concerts. This is particularly true in our advanced High School handbell choir, which uses student conductors to run rehearsals and shape the direction of the group's musical expressions. High School handbells has performances coming up on Tuesday, December 4, at 11:00 a.m. in Bellevue Square Mall's Center Court and on Tuesday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m. in the Forest Ridge Chapel.

 

It's been fun this fall to bring handbells back to the Middle School as well. The 6th graders are putting their boundless energy to work in preparing musical selections for their upcoming concert, which will include costumes, poetry readings, and creative staging and movement. Their performance is on Monday, December 3, at 7:00 p.m. in the Forest Ridge Chapel.

 

I've also seen creativity unfolding in the students taking our new Digital Music class. These students are learning about the technology involved in music production, and then using those technological tools to create their own original music projects. We're looking at opportunities for these students to share their work with the wider Forest Ridge community.

 

There's a lot going on in Fine Arts at Forest Ridge this upcoming holiday season. I hope you'll come enjoy the results of our students' creativity and encourage them in their continuing creative explorations! And I hope you'll look for opportunities for your own creative expressions as well.