ABOUT MRS. WILLIAMS

MY PHILOSOPHY REGARDING MUSIC

MUSIC AT MEMORIAL

    I was born and raised in Ohio where I received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Heidelberg College. Upon graduation I taught in both public and private schools in Indiana, Ohio, Maine and finally here in New Hampshire. At the beginning of my career, I taught  jr. high chorus, jr. high band, high school chorus, and general music classes for K-12. After a few years I discovered my passion was teaching elementary level students. I particularly enjoy producing and directing children's musicals. 

    On a personal note, I recently got married. Many of you will remember me as Ms. Spencer. My married name is Mrs. Williams and I live in Chester, New Hampshire. You may have seen Mr. Williams at schooI. He comes to help me with the sound for the school musicals.Mr. Williams is an avid snow skier who is very good at moguls. He is trying to teach ME how to ski. I am enjoying it very much. In the summer we do lots of hiking and traveling around NH.

      I am also the parent of 3 wonderful children: Bethany, Nicholas and Laurie Stack. Bethany is 22 and a Senior Theatre Major at UNH in Durham, NH. Upon graduation she plans to join the New Hampshire Air National Guard and hopes to be involved with Public Affairs there. Nicholas is 20 and is stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas studying to be an AGE mechanic. When his schooling ends in November, he will return to work with the 157th Air Refueling Wing at the Pease Air National Guard Base located in Newington, NH. Laurie is 16 and a junior at Mt. Ararat  High School in Topsham, Maine where she currently lives with her father. She hopes to major in Music at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts upon graduation. Now that I have married, I have two more musicians in my family!!Mr. Williams has two sons, Jarrod and Cory, who are professional guitar and bass musicians. Cory is located in Boston while Jarrod plays locally in the Manchester/Derry area.

     As a music teacher, I believe that music is beneficial for all students. I realize that not every child will pick music as a lifetime career. However, I do believe that a music education will enhance and affect every child's life in many aspects. For some students, music is a passion they will continue to utilize and develop throughout their life. For other children, it will be a hobby. But regardless, there are huge benefits. Music has been shown to increase mathematic skills, listening skills, fine motor coordination and to raise SAT test scores.

     When it comes to performance, it is my firm belief that each child should have opportunities to perform in front of an audience. This builds student confidence and prepares them for future experiences in public speaking. Every child is encouraged and expected to participate.

     I allow students to choose the type of part they would like. Some like to have speaking parts or solo singing parts. Some  are shy and wish to perform only as part of a large group. I honor as many requests as I can. Not all students get a lead role but I try to divide up the speaking parts and make as many characters as I can to accommodate requests. All students wear a costume and sing when we perform musicals.

     Our concerts are usually done as a public service. Our fall concert in Second Grade is performed for Senior Citizens at Packer Meadows. Several residents are shuts in so we go to their apt. and sing in front of the window. In the past, the Fourth Grades go to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to honor the 4,000 employees-many of whom are veterans. I want to encourage children to share their music talents with the community.

Here at Memorial School, on any given week, I teach every classroom. Kindergarten-5th Music Classes last for  45 minutes and occur once a week.

     During class we spend time doing one or more of the following: singing, moving creatively, dancing, playing rhythm instruments or xylophones, creating music or lyrics, learning music theory, and observing or writing a critique of a musical performance. We study about the basic elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, form, tone color, and expressive qualities.

    
     In addition to attending a weekly music class, all students are involved in one performance during the school year. This year, the First, Third and Fifth Grades will perform in a musical involving acting, singing, costumes, props and scenery. Second Grade and Fourth Grade perform in a concert setting as a community service. The Second Graders sing for local Senior Citizens. The Fourth Graders go on a field trip to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where they sing to Veterans and Shipyard workers to honor them for their service to our country near the Memorial Weekend Holiday.