[HANASHIR:12865] Re: request for satb on all levels

[Karen Gall <klg8...>]

Oh this sounds so familiar.

Our children were the only Jewish students in their elementary school.
Each year I would go into the school and explain about Chanukah and bring 
latkes and cookies and dreidles, etc. I also would go in to speak to one 
other class whose teacher always included a multi-cultural approach to the 
season in her class.

My children happened to love to perform. Our oldest daughter, in particular, 
had a particularly wonderful voice and won honours at all the music 
festivals.  This reflected well on the school music teacher who did not 
particularly encourage her or even compliment her on her achievements.

Each year I would talk to this teacher about including some Chanukah related 
song so our children would feel comfortable and welcome at their own school 
concerts.

I suggested an international or multicultural approach to the event and also 
suggested that there be more secular/winter-related songs as well. Every 
year there were excuses.  It didn't matter how early I spoke to her I was 
told: "the Christmas Concert is already set and we can't make any changes".

Or one year, there was the excuse that the French Immersion teachers 
insisted on their songs being in French.  I even found a little French ditty 
about counting the Chanukah candles - but no, that year my daughter's class 
was going to do a French Canadian folk dance.

I offered music.  I offered tapes.  I offered to arrange the songs for the 
appropriate age levels of their classes.  I offered to come in and teach the 
music. The answer was no, no, no.

I went to the principal....and was told the music teacher made these 
decisions.  I went to the parent-teacher committee and was told that "Canada 
was a Christian country and anyone who wasn't should go back to where he 
came from".

Two years after my youngest child left the school, I was phoned by one of 
the new teachers in the school.  The new principal had decided to have a 
"Christmas around the World" theme for the Christmas Concert.  He assigned 
Chanukah to the grade 2 & 6 classes.  The music teacher had told this 
teacher that I might be able to help.  Once again, I went in to that school. 
  I brought my tapes and books and candles and dreidles.....  When I was 
finished, the music teacher said to me.  Oh, I didn't know what Chanukah was 
about.  You have music?  Can I borrow your tapes.....?


What your friend has encountered is antisemitism.  I am sure that there are 
members of our list who are involved in choirs and who can point you in the 
direction of specific titles and arrangements of challenging music, arranged 
for satb, for all levels of choirs.  Try Transcontinental music.  Their 
catalogue is on-line.

And good luck to your friend.

Karen



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