And It's An Invitation
Roll up, roll up, for the Mystery Tour! December 19th and 20th, the Cabot High School Allied Arts classes are hosting the Magical Mystery Tour, a performance, concert and art installation based around the music and culture of the Beatles and the 1960’s.
“There is just something so appealing about a generation that believed so completely in their ability to change the world,” says James Haugland, the Cabot School chorus and drama instructor. “Exploring this period with the young people at the Cabot School has been very exciting and rewarding.”
“It’s fun to discover and re-discover the music with the students,” Brian Boyes, the Cabot music instructor, says. “Some students are coming into it with familiarity but are re-discovering the music in new ways, whereas for others, this is their first real taste of the music.”
The students have been enthusiastically preparing for the final performance, still several months away. “We are working to model all the aspects of a professional level performance,” James Haugland explains. “I think the students are getting excited and invested in the process.”
“I expect it to be like a roller coaster ride,” Ruth Kaldor, the Cabot School visual art teacher, confesses. “We’re helping the students into all the roles and responsibilities that are associated with a production of this magnitude, and every one of them is working on contributing something meaningful to the performance.”
The art pieces that are being worked on include short dramatic vignettes, original music arrangements, sets, costumes and, of course, the concentration on the iconic music of the Beatles.
“Of all the bands we'd be likely to study in school, the Beatles are definitely my top choice,” band student Timothy Mueller-Harder says. “I am very familiar with all their music, so to be learning how to play it is really rewarding. I have a high standard to model my work on.”
“Honestly,” says chorus student Cypress Ellen, “I didn’t expect to like the Beatles. But listening to their music and singing the songs, I can see how spectacular they are.”
The performance will not be the only product of the semester’s work on the Beatles: students are also working in groups to record thirty-minute radio broadcasts for Goddard College’s independent radio, WGDR. The broadcasts, as whole entitled A Day in the Life, will include music, writing, and stories from the community. Students will conduct interviews and fieldwork to find how the Beatles have influenced the community.
“After all,” Brian Boyes says, “everybody has a Beatles story. In many ways it’s one of these odd cultural phenomena that connect us.”
The final performance will not only feature music arranged by students, but also several guest artists, well-known local singers and musicians who will sing alongside the students.
“The creative imagination of our students at the Cabot School will be the driving force behind the final product,” James Haugland says. “Our students have so much to offer, and I think the community will be very excited to be a part of this magical event!”
The interviews contained in this article were conducted by Kassandra Morse. The article was written by Kassandra Morse.
“There is just something so appealing about a generation that believed so completely in their ability to change the world,” says James Haugland, the Cabot School chorus and drama instructor. “Exploring this period with the young people at the Cabot School has been very exciting and rewarding.”
“It’s fun to discover and re-discover the music with the students,” Brian Boyes, the Cabot music instructor, says. “Some students are coming into it with familiarity but are re-discovering the music in new ways, whereas for others, this is their first real taste of the music.”
The students have been enthusiastically preparing for the final performance, still several months away. “We are working to model all the aspects of a professional level performance,” James Haugland explains. “I think the students are getting excited and invested in the process.”
“I expect it to be like a roller coaster ride,” Ruth Kaldor, the Cabot School visual art teacher, confesses. “We’re helping the students into all the roles and responsibilities that are associated with a production of this magnitude, and every one of them is working on contributing something meaningful to the performance.”
The art pieces that are being worked on include short dramatic vignettes, original music arrangements, sets, costumes and, of course, the concentration on the iconic music of the Beatles.
“Of all the bands we'd be likely to study in school, the Beatles are definitely my top choice,” band student Timothy Mueller-Harder says. “I am very familiar with all their music, so to be learning how to play it is really rewarding. I have a high standard to model my work on.”
“Honestly,” says chorus student Cypress Ellen, “I didn’t expect to like the Beatles. But listening to their music and singing the songs, I can see how spectacular they are.”
The performance will not be the only product of the semester’s work on the Beatles: students are also working in groups to record thirty-minute radio broadcasts for Goddard College’s independent radio, WGDR. The broadcasts, as whole entitled A Day in the Life, will include music, writing, and stories from the community. Students will conduct interviews and fieldwork to find how the Beatles have influenced the community.
“After all,” Brian Boyes says, “everybody has a Beatles story. In many ways it’s one of these odd cultural phenomena that connect us.”
The final performance will not only feature music arranged by students, but also several guest artists, well-known local singers and musicians who will sing alongside the students.
“The creative imagination of our students at the Cabot School will be the driving force behind the final product,” James Haugland says. “Our students have so much to offer, and I think the community will be very excited to be a part of this magical event!”
The interviews contained in this article were conducted by Kassandra Morse. The article was written by Kassandra Morse.