Middle Schoolers Connect With Musicians From Around the Globe

When it was no longer possible to have her bands meet in the same space, Maggie Lauer, MS Band Director, knew it was time to pivot. One of the challenges she saw with teaching band virtually was missing a moment to come together as an entire band or class. Technology, while great, is imperfect at having the group come together.

Lauer commented, “Music for me, and the kids, is a social pursuit. I love watching the students work together. In addition to giving them time to excel individually, students need to work as a team.” With that in mind, Lauer decided to create opportunities for her students to just listen and learn as a group. Originally, she had planned to invite some of her musician colleagues and friends from around the world to be guest lecturers on campus during the month of April. Thanks to technology, she did not need to abandon that idea and was even able to expand it.

With the support of the music department, Lauer has lined up a diverse group of musicians from around the world to “bring them virtually to the Hilltop.” She says, “I have a network of extremely talented people. I can learn from them and my students can learn from them. So... why not?”

So far, Lauer has hosted cellist Sophie Gledhill from England, sound healer and Broadway cellist Zsaz Rutkowski, and trumpeter Bryan Walters from Brooklyn as guests with her classes. Lauer will continue to invite musicians to appear on the Hilltop virtually, with plans in the works already to include musicians from New Zealand, California, Spain and Canada in the upcoming weeks.

Watch a couple of moments from the class with Rutkowski as she demonstrates with her cello and sound healing bowls:

“It’s a scary time to be an artist. Yesterday, you might have been playing in the orchestra, touring internationally or performing on Broadway. Today, you are sitting at home wondering when your next gig will happen or your job will resume. You’re seeing a lot of musicians rethink how they create, teach and perform. In some ways, it’s an interesting time to be a musician, if you can get beyond the fear and intimidation of it all,” Lauer says.

Lauer wanted not only to teach her students, but also help her fellow musicians. “I feel lucky to work with colleagues who are so supportive of this idea. Asst. Head of Middle School Mark Chuhta and Upper School Music Chair Dale Griffa have been instrumental in helping me bring this idea to life for our students. I couldn’t be more grateful.”

The musicians working with SLS students have been incredibly generous with their time and eager to meet members of our community. As Lauer said, “Not only do my students get to see people who excel at their craft, but they also see how people who are adapting to a challenging situation. Our musical community gets to be part of that pivot.” A positive and unexpected outcome is that it has brought music to entire families. Grandparents and siblings and even pets have joined in the classes and come together to listen, watch, and learn. In this time of being apart, Ms. Lauer and her fellow musicians have found a way to unite people through the common language of music.