Schools

Springhurst 4th-Graders Sing the Curriculum, in Perfect Harmony

Dobbs Ferry music teacher George Swietlicki leads the entire Dobbs Ferry 4th-grade class in a historically-accurate, original composition.

choral director George Swietlicki said that two years ago he and a few of the elementary school teachers were discussing composing a piece of music that integrated the early-New York social studies curriculum with his musical instruction.

"One of my students raised his hand and said that his father was a lyricist," Swietlicki recalled with a twinkle in his eye. "I didn't believe him. I told him to sit down. But I called his father anyway."

Thus began the collaboration among Dobbs Ferry's , an accomplished lyricist for musical theater, Swietlicki and Dobbs Ferry's 4th-grade teachers. 

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On Tuesday, Swietlicki led his 4th-graders in performing "The Hudson River"—first sung in 2009 by the now 6th-grade classs—which chronicles the founding of New York from Henry Hudson through the construction of the Eerie Canal.

"We have been practicing since January," Swietlicki said. "What is most difficult about this piece is that it includes the entire 4th grade singing. But the kids still sing it perfectly. I guarantee 100 percent perfection from the kids." 

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The narrative piece includes dialogue, solos and even group choreography, as the children pantomime the undulations of the mighty Hudson River. Even Henry Hudson and NY Governor Dewitt Clinton make appearances, sneaking in a number of fascinating and esoteric details about the state's earliest years. 

"The piece took about three weeks to compose," Swietlicki said. "Laurence [Holzman] and I had to work together to make sure the words and the notes fit together perfectly."

Tuesday's concert came in the wake of another coup for Swietlicki—his talented "Harmonaires" choral group of 4th and 5th-graders performed The National Anthem at commencement ceremony last week. 

"I received an email from Mercy College's Deirdre Whitman later thanking us," Swietlicki said. "She wrote: 'The work that you do brought tremendous joy to thousands of families this week. I have worked in higher education for 20 years and have not experienced a nicer commencement to commencement.'"

Swietlicki hopes to compose more curriculum-based musical arrangements for the kids to perform. "Next year, I'd like to work on a piece that integrates the D.A.R.E. [anti-drug and alcohol education] curriculum. I want to get back in the game," he said. 


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