On a recent morning, the halls of Brookwood Elementary were filled with the sound of bells as the Brookwood Elementary Hand Chime Choir treated an audience of family and friends to a performance of holiday classics. Students performed favorites like “Frosty the Snowman” and “Jingle Bells” during their final concert of the year.
Brookwood Elementary holds the distinction of having the only hand chime choir in the district. The program was initiated two decades ago by dedicated music teacher, Marilyn Lake. This musical tradition has become a cherished part of the Brookwood Elementary experience.
Every student in the school, from kindergarten to sixth grade, has the opportunity to ring the chimes in music class. Fifth and sixth grade students have the additional opportunity to join the hand chime choir.
Sixth grader Elizabeth Walton shared that she has looked forward to participating in the chimes choir since she was younger. “I wanted to participate because it seems like a lot of fun, and you can spend more time in the music room, which I really like,” she explained.
For some students, the chimes choir has not only been an opportunity to make music, but also to build lasting friendships. “I’ve made a lot of good friends with fifth graders,” sixth grader Adambi N Akwanka’a shared “They’re honestly some of my favorite people in the whole world!”
Lake sees many educational benefits to the program.
“It’s a wonderful tool for students to learn how to track, how to count, how to stay together, and how to be in an ensemble,” she expressed. “The chimes not only create beautiful music but also contribute to the students’ overall development.”
The program has thrived at Brookwood, in part, due to the ongoing support of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) which has generously funded the purchase of the chimes.
At the conclusion of the performance, the final notes of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” intertwined with applause from the audience, making it clear that this unique music program is appreciated by students and the broader school community.