Over 140 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students participated in Pennekamp's year end concert

which was held on May 31at MBMS.  

Thank you to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation for funding instrumental music in our schools! 

Instrumental music instruction begins in the third grade with the strings program.  Students have the choice of playing the violin, viola, cello or string bass and meet once weekly with an instructor either before school starts or after it ends.

Beginning in the fourth grade and continuing through 5th grade, students can select to play in either band or strings.   

Once a week, during the regular classroom day, students play under the direction of a band or strings instructor.

In December, students can audition for the MBUSD elementary honor band or honor strings program which meets after school each week beginning in January.  This year, about 80 students made up the honor band and honor strings groups of which 20 musicians were from Pennekamp. 

The strings performed first with selections ranging from classics (Pachelbel's "Canon in D" and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy") to standards ("Twinkle Variations", "America" and "Polly Wolly Doodle") to "Wipe Out" by The Safaris.  The 3rd grade strings were featured in their own solo presentation of "French Folk Song".

The fourth grade band came next with "London Bridges", "Bingo", "Snake Charmer Dance", "London Bridges in Rounds" and "Old Ms. Farmer had a Band".

Next was the fifth grade band with "Haydn Seek Fanfare", "Flamenco Fantasy", "Amadeus", "Cousin Louie", and "Monster Medley".

For the finale, the combined 4th and 5th grade bands and the strings played "Finale from the New World Symphony" and "American Patrol".  This required three conductors so MBMS instrumental music instructor Mrs. Denise Haslop guest conducted the 5th grade band.

Congratulations to all of our musicians!  Special thanks to Ms. Dawn Farmer, band instructor and honor band and honor strings director and Mrs. Frances Orvis, strings instructor for the wonderful jobs they do teaching these young students how to play musical instruments! 

After the concert was over, the musicians were all smiles celebrating a job well done.  The third graders were happy that their first concert was such a huge success while the fifth graders said farewell after their final concert as Pennekamp dragons.

Thank you to Steve Bandel and Tammy Choy for providing these photos.