While there is a cut back in the arts programs in schools, including music, one Los Angeles elementary school teacher wasn’t going to allow budgets to dictate whether her kids get to experience, and participate in, musical performance.
Growing up with music and performing in a school event be it solo or a group choir, is something children remember for the rest of their lives. It’s an early introduction to being on stage or witnessing and enjoying your fellow students on stage. This has big advantages later in life when public speaking may come into play or other public platforms take place.
She teaches 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade at Baldwin Hills Elementary School. Yet somehow Malinda Williams still created the time to re-boot a music program in the school.
Turning on the radio or watching kids nowadays recite lyrics to popular songs, is a big wake up call on just how utterly horrible much of the popular music of today is. Kids don’t realize that they are listening to songs which are largely digitally manipulated voices backed by weak and further manipulated instrumentation, and of course the lyrics are usually garbage as well.
Put the music of today up against the Jackson 5’s and The Supremes of yesterday, and they are revealed for the soulless musical and lyrical commercial creations they truly are. So this teacher wanted to at least give these kids the experience of the timeless soul heavy music of the true greats such as Stevie Wonder, Jackson 5, and The Supremes.
“The Sounds of Motown” was a musical event that this amazing teacher put together for everyone. It was a reminder of when music was indeed music. Lyrics were sung from the soul, not digitized, chopped, edited and regurgitated into commercial-based product.
Here we have Williams’ 3rd grade students performing the Jackson 5 hit “I Want You Back.”
What a relief that a teacher is indeed not going with the mundane flow of commercial product music, but instead is exposing the young to the soulful era of magical Motown where music was way more genuine and true.
Here’s the big thank you that the school put out regarding this amazing event:
“Thanks to the talents and commitment of our students under the direction of Malinda Williams, assisted by Jackie Walker, we presented a tribute to the Sights and Sounds of Motown. A special thank you to the parents who made some of the amazing costumes. This would not have been a success without the contribution of our school community!” the school website states.
Here’s what Williams had to say about the magical event:
“After seeing the response I’ve gotten over these past few days, I realize that God has given me something special. “Thank you, Lord.”….This is a labor of love. Emphasis on the word labor, but a heavier emphasis on the word LOVE! I LOVE CHILDREN, I LOVE TO TEACH, I LOVE TO DANCE, I LOVE OLD SCHOOL MUSIC!”
Amazing performance and amazing costumes! Check out Jelani, Eugene, Ryan, Anthony, and Jalen pay tribute to The Jackson 5!
Be sure to share this special performance of this classic song with friends and family!
Via: DAMN
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