When those enthusiastic singing students from the Highlands Elementary School get up to present their Christmas concert at the school auditorium on Tuesday, December 16 at 6:30 you can thank the enthusiasm and expertise of long-time instructor Denise Furda for their excellence and love for music.
Furda has been the music instructor at the Highlands school for 24 years and now also teaches in both Atlantic Highlands elementary and Henry Hudson, bringing lessons and excitement to fourth through seventh graders in instrument lessons, as well as general music lessons to the seventh-grade students.
At Highlands, Furda has a spring concert every June and the Christmas concert before the winter holiday, a special performance for many reasons. But it’s especially exciting, she said, since it is the first performance for beginner players, a challenging an exciting way experience. But, the teacher added with a smile, “people tend to love to hear the holiday songs every year, and that makes them special as well.”
Furda designs the Christmas Concert to always include at least one Christmas, one Chanukah and one winter song for each of the three groups that perform…the Combined Band, the Osprey Band and the Osprey Chorus. Fourth to sixth graders are invited to join the band and chorus, and this year is truly special, the teacher said, since “We have small groups working really hard to make this concert special.” She herself accompanies the students on the piano during the concert.
As part of the regular curriculum, students have at least one lesson with Furda each week, but all are expected to practice at home throughout the week. The students who are in the Osprey Band have an additional rehearsal together once a week, and the Osprey Chorus rehearses once a week after school.
Nor does it take coaxing or motivating the students to practice or enjoy classes, the teacher said. “Students like to show their progress at the concerts and to see their families watch them perform.”
To the question of why music is such an important part of the curriculum in elementary school besides simply learning something new, Furda noted the many excellent opportunities the subject offers.
“Music gives students a way to express themselves. They learn to work as a group to achieve a goal. I love that we begin instrument lessons in fourth grade because they develop a good foundation of music skills and knowledge before moving up to Henry Hudson and joining the Middle School Band.”
And what is the best part of the job for this very talented, devoted and patient teacher?
“The concerts are a fun part of my job!”
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