Editor’s note: The following was provided by Whitewater Unified School District.
Did you ever wonder who writes the music for movies, TV shows, and video games? How do you compose electronic music? Where do composers find their inspiration? Lincoln students learned about all of this and more when on March 3rd they had a ZOOM call with internationally acclaimed composer, Alex Shapiro. The students have been practicing one of Shapiro’s newest pieces, “Count to TEN,” which they will perform at the Lincoln Fine Arts Night Concert, on March 15. The piece has an electronic music track that plays along with acoustic choral speaking. It challenges students through changing time signatures, dynamics, articulations, and rhythms. Performing it with the electronic track adds to the complexity and the fun! Already knowing basic information about the composer, the students all wrote questions they hoped for Alex to answer about her life as a composer.
Hundreds of questions were narrowed down to twenty-four and asked by students during the meeting. Students loved hearing about Alex’s life, starting to compose at age nine, just like them, exploring electronic music in her teens, and following her dream. Alex told the students that she loved listening to several of their electro-acoustic compositions that every 4th and 5th-grade student had composed in the winter. She reminded the young composers that no matter what age you are, you can create music. Alex’s inspiration comes from what is in her world, especially her love of nature, such as the ocean that she looks out on every day from her home on San Juan Island. Events happening around her and in the world are also expressed through her music, such as her piece, “Breathe,” written during the Covid-19 pandemic. Although she started out in video game music, Shapiro now focuses on compositions for bands, orchestras, choirs, and chamber music, traveling around the world where her music is performed.
Lincoln students reflected upon their opportunity to talk with a professional composer, learning about what she did. They were grateful they could hear her live, not from “some video.” Students stated that: “Her music inspires me.” “All of us can be composers, no matter what our age.” “You are able to express your emotions and events in life through music.” “I liked getting to know her and learning about what she did.” “She’s really cool and funny.” “The exciting thing about electronic music is that you can copy and make any sound in the world, then change it up.” “We have a voice that needs to be heard.”
Music educator, Christine Hayes, commented, “It was a magical day in music, connecting a world-class contemporary composer with future composers at Lincoln Elementary! And just wait until you hear them perform Alex Shapiro’s piece at the concert – you will be inspired. We are so appreciative of Alex spending time with us. We all grew!”
