×
×
homepage logo

Tonganoxie Elementary School wins state title in Music Memory

By Shawn Linenberger - | May 21, 2015

Tonganoxie Elementary School has a state championship in Music Memory.

TES sent two teams to the Music Memory contest April 22 at Kansas State University.

The “Tonganoxie South” team led by TES teacher Amy Jones won the state contest this year. The squad won the contest against 17 other teams, including the “Tonganoxie North” team led by fellow TES teacher Wanda Haney.

Haney had a team that also won the contest in 2012.

Students were excited about their performances at K-State.

“It was fun and I liked going on stage,” said Daviana White. “I got a perfect (individual award) and we got on stage a second time for the lightning round (as a team).”

Teammate Graham Foley was equally ecstatic about how TES students fared at the contest.

“It was awesome (because) I was really good at it,” Graham said. “I memorized very well in my head and tests went well. My favorite part of the contest was getting to go to the lightning round for the first time.”

Graham and Daviana both received perfect score awards, as did Lachlan Bond and Audrey Glynn. Also on Amy Jones’ team were Rorie Clemens and Corinne Morgan.

Members of Haney’s team this year were Katelyn Bothwell, Isaiah Holthaus, Hayden Riley Johnson, Marie Smith, Emma Skelley and Garrett Edwards.

Now in its 35th year, Music Memory is a nationally recognized program designed to give students in grades 3-6 a lifelong love for music. It provides an in-depth study of music that students will enjoy for a lifetime but may not be exposed to otherwise.

A committee of music education experts from the Texas University Interscholastic League selects 16 new pieces each year. These selections of music from the Renaissance through Contemporary historical periods provide the opportunity to formally study prominent composers from across orchestral, vocal, choral, band, jazz, keyboard and other genres.

Music Memory is designed to supplement general music experiences. In addition to learning the melodies through listening to the selections, students study musical vocabulary, definitions, instrumental and vocal tone colors, musical form, and historical and cultural significance of the music.

Kansas State University hosts a statewide contest as an opportunity for any schools using this curriculum to bring a team of five (plus an alternate) to participate.

TES has used this curriculum for many years and has created its own version of the state Music Memory contest in order to allow more students to be involved at a higher level. Every class of third- and fourth-graders has a team of five classmates to represent their class. This year, a third-grade team of Taylor Igleheart, Brendan Bowlin, Molly Rausch, Luke Kesinger and Logan Spencer won the contest among TES students.