On May 23rd, Saxe MS had the unique privilege of hosting guest composer Dr. Gwyneth Walker. Dr. Walker had a special session with our 6th-grade Band, where they had the opportunity to work on her original song, 'Ready to Swing!', which showcased during the May 29th evening concert.
Dr. Walker is a local New Canaan resident and composer who has loved music from a young age. She began writing music at age two and has written over 400 pieces of commissioned work. Each piece has been curated to suit the needs of a broad array of genres and performance groups, such as orchestra ensembles, solo instruments, chorus, solo artists, and student performers of all ages. She is a graduate of Brown University and the Hartt School of Music, where she holds her B.A., M.M., and D.M.A. degrees in Music Composition.
During her teaching session, Dr. Walker worked alongside Saxe music teacher Janet Rosen to help 6th-grade students understand the vision behind her piece, including tempo, cadence, crescendos, and a few surprises thrown in to keep their upcoming audience on their toes. In addition, students could speak to Dr. Walker and learn more about what it's like to be a composer.
"It helps to talk to people who really do this," explained Dr. Walker, explaining what this experience means for students. "It's eye-opening [for them], but it's really not that daunting. One can do this, one can!"
For students, having a composer work with them directly helps them understand all the facets that go into a musical performance. While conductors help set the tempo and control the music's pacing, a composer's presence can help artists understand the true vision of the piece. It not only brings forth a more holistic view of the piece's story but also humanizes the experience behind the music they are working on.
"I think seeing is more than saying," Dr. Walker remarked at our conversation's end. "I think they now know the whole process of composing ... so now they can say I'd like to do that too, and I saw someone that was doing it, and they know it's possible."
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