Singing therapy

Every Tuesday evening for the past five weeks, Belmont parents have been meeting with teachers outside their classrooms.
Rather than having conferences, they are volunteers together in the second annual experiment of the Belmont Public School Fine and Performing Arts Department – the Parent/Teacher Chorus.
This unique group consists of 20 men and 47 women including Belmont Public Schools Director of Finance, Gerry Missal, retired Special Educator, Alison Goulder, Physical Therapist Debbie Dayton, the Director of Christ Lutheran Child Care and Nursery School Ronnie Johnson, as well as some married couples, a father and his daughter.
This is just a sampling of the mix of talented, experienced musicians and singers; and a few people who just like to sing in their car or shower, or have absolutely no singing experience, but just wanted an excuse to get out of the house or try something completely out of their normal comfort realm.
Directing this diverse, brave group is Music Specialist Christine Servilio who teaches at the Winn Brook Elementary and Chenery Middle Schools. She said she has been singing since she could speak and wanted a change of pace by working with this adult age group.
“It’s always interesting to do something for the first time, when no one has any pre-existing ideas or expectations,” said Servilio.
She also decided to take on the challenge to show students they won’t stop making music when they leave school.
“Music is a life-long experience – no matter what level of talent you have, you can always challenge yourself to grow a little bit more,” said Servilio.
Justin Roe of Belmont (originally from England) admits he has no singing experience, but his friend Amy Jones convinced him to give this experiment a try.
“I have been wanting to join a low-risk, novice chorus for quite a few years but have always found it too daunting,” said Roe.
“I am benefiting from some good music teaching and meeting some new friends in the community. I have never performed in public before, so there will be some good experiences for me in that,” he added.
Bruce Rosenblum of Belmont participated in last year’s experiment, “The Mamas and the Papas and the Teachers, Too” Band. He said he enjoyed playing his oboe again after a thirty year break.
“It was also a really great way to increase sharing the Chenery music experience with my 12-year-old son who plays flute,” said Rosenblum.
“Suddenly he was reminding me to practice last year instead of the other way around! So continuing this year with the chorus was just a natural extension of it,” he said.
Instrumental Music Instructor John McLellan is ecstatic about the response this year’s experiment has received.
“This ensemble is an experiment designed to provide another venue to allow our adult constituents an outlet for their musicianship.
“Primarily designed as an opportunity for us, the post-graduates, it serves also as an example to the young students that music making doesn’t have to stop on Graduation Day,” said McLellan.
On Thursday, Feb. 11, 7:00 p.m. in the Chenery Middle School Auditorium, the unveiling of this special group will take place at the Chenery Chamber Concert. Many of these adults will be playing on the same stage as their children and grandchildren in the Woodwind Symphony (35 students) directed by Sharon Phipps, the Brass Symphony (28 students) directed by John McLellan and the Percussion Symphony (8 students) directed by Mark Kohler, Berklee School of Music. There is no admission fee for this intergenerational performance.
Parents of Music Students, Inc. (POMS) is the sponsoring organizing behind this program, a non-profit parent-community organization created to support, enhance and enrich the Belmont Public Schools K-12 Music Program. For more information, visit http://www.belmont.k12.ma.us/art/poms/index.html.