GST BOCES congratulates

Mary Jane Todd Eckel,

Music teacher and Arts in Education Coordinator

and
Madge Larrimore, 

principal at 

Hendy Avenue Elementary School

in the Elmira City School District

Mary Jane Eckel wears many hats. She teaches Pre-K through 5th grade general music at Hendy Avenue School.  She is also the Arts in Education Coordinator for the Elmira City School District.  Last year she did some work at Elmira Free Academy after school where her children attend.  In addition to her teaching,  Mary Jane directs the Arctic League Children's Chorus and the children's choir and hand bell choir at Park Church.  She was also a founding member of the Rafael Grigorian Ballet Theatre and worked with them for four years. She used to sit in with the Arts of the Southern Finger Lakes.  Mary Jane was a piano major at Mansfield University and received a Master's degree from Elmira College.  She also did post-graduate work at New York University, Eastman School of Music and Mansfield University.  

While at Eastman,  she spent two weeks where she received her Level 3 Certification for Orff *http://www.aosa.org/about/orff-schulwerk/default.asp . For Mary Jane,  this was the best professional experience of her life.  While at Eastman, she met music educators from all over the world.  "The Orff experience gives kids a lot of physical, non-traditional movement skills that translate into literacy.  Walking, speaking to the beat stimulates the brain in areas that increase literacy, among other aptitudes."  

For Mary Jane,  music has always been a part of her life.  Mary Jane was the oldest of five children.  Her mother played piano and it was a favorite pastime for the whole family to stand around the piano and sing.  Her grandmother was also a musician.  "There was never a question.  We ALL would be musicians!" And four out of the five children did grow up to become musicians and all five passed on a love of music to their children.  All families have pianos and the children have been successful.  Mary Jane's own daughter toured Europe with the Sound of America Honor Chorus.  All the children are doing things at the college level for their own enjoyment, even if they are not music majors.

According to Mary Jane,  Art Education is so important for children because it is about self-expression.  "It's necessary for basic literacy and skills and the appreciation of beauty in whatever way possible.  We can teach through art education.  It is the same for dance, visual arts or poetry.  Art is a basic need.  I can't think of a Pre-K or Kindergarten student who doesn't love to sing.  I want to be in the role of guiding students along up until they hit adolescence." 

In the future, Mary Jane would like to travel as well as publish her own general music teacher's sourcebook.  This would be a monthly integrated approach for music teachers to integrate with the classroom.  It would include self-directed goals and evaluation.  The guide would be directed at Pre-K and Kindergarten and early childhood experience integrating with reading programs.

In April of 2000,  Mary Jane was the Outstanding Educator of the Month - "Miss April!"  She was also featured in Who's Who of Young American Women." 

About teaching music,  Mary Jane "loves being able to share with children in the excitement and love of performing. She loves walking down the hall and hearing her students say "Hi Mrs.  Eckel!"    

"The Elmira area is blessed with wonderfully rich cultural offerings - especially for families, declares Mary Jane.   We need to promote having children having these experiences at places such as The Clemens Center and the museums. All children need to have opportunities to explore, not just those who can afford it."  

It is easy to see why Mary Jane Eckel has chosen music education as her profession and why she serves as the Arts in Education Coordinator for the Elmira City School District.  She is able to incorporate all her passions.  Her passion for performance, her passion for teaching and her passion for enriching the lives of all children - even those beyond Hendy's doors.  Children in Elmira's schools are fortunate to have Mary Jane Eckel quietly playing such a role in their lives.  We all are!

* Orff Schulwerk  - http://www.aosa.org/about/orff-schulwerk/default.asp 

Orff Schulwerk is a way to teach and learn music. It is based on things children like to do: sing, chant rhymes, clap, dance, and keep a beat on anything near at hand. These instincts are directed into learning music by hearing and making music first, then reading and writing it later. This is the same way we all learned our language.

Orff Schulwerk uses poems, rhymes, games, songs, and dances as examples and basic materials. These may be traditional or original. Spoken or sung, they may be accompanied by clapping and stamping or by drums, sticks, and bells.

The special Orff melody instruments include wooden xylophones and metal glockenspiels that offer good sound immediately. Played together as in a small orchestra, their use helps children become sensitive listeners and considerate participants.

http://www.aosa.org/about/orff-schulwerk/default.asp 

Madge Larrimore

"The Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education or Library Education, are tied into grade level and can bring that curricula alive through the cultures being studied."

Madge Larrimore

The Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education or Library Education, are tied into grade level and can bring that curricula alive through the cultures being studied.  Rather than using a flat medium - like a textbook, an academic area such as social studies, for example, can come alive through the arts  using songs, visual arts and dance of the countries being studied .  At  Hendy , special area teachers meet with grade level teachers on a rotating basis.  For instance,  science teachers can study the weather in collaboration with the music teacher, Mrs. Eckel, who can supply weather songs.   Rhyming music also assists in learning phonemic awareness.  Physical Education teachers can work with teachers teaching phonics , using ABC's instead of numbers to count off teams  and incorporating dance and kinesthetic movement. 

Years ago,  Madge heard an art teacher say "I'm just a place to drop off kids." Madge Larrimore
knows that the special areas have so much more to offer. "Think about your own schooling - what you remember the most are the projects.  I believe that's the best way to learn - through  interdisciplinary project teaching. In fact,  when I was at Coburn, both Coburn when I was at Coburn, both Coburn  and Booth Schools were written up in the National Arts Foundation book of Model Schools when they made use of a $35,000 grant for artist  residencies  linked to grade level social studies ."

At  Hendy  Elementary School under the administration of Madge Larrimore, the arts are alive and well!

SCT BOCES congratulates

For more,  see

www.gstbocesartsineducation.blogspot.com

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