Welcome to Music at Porters Point School
Click here to view a slideshow of the Musical Petting Zoo (.wmv format - Windows Media Video)
On March 25, 2010, all 1st and 2nd grade students at our school were treated to a visit by the Vermont Symphony Orchestra's Musical Petting Zoo. This informative session gave students an overview of instruments in the orchestra, as well as some facts about how people used instruments to communicate and make music in primitive times. The children were all very excited to see the many instruments they would eventually be able to play. The "Zookeeper," Rebecca Kopycinski, eventually set the children loose to hold and play all of the instruments that were in the room. The children were so excited about this -- they no doubt went home and talked about it to family members. The slideshow link provided above will give a highlight of the day's activities.
The Music program is taught by Ms. Martie Mutz, Music Educator. All students come to Music Class once a week for 45 minutes. Students are exposed to and experience the elements of music (melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, form, style) while they SING, DANCE, PLAY, LISTEN TO and CREATE music.
The Colchester Music Curriculum is based on the nine National Standards for Music Education. For more information on the National Standards, visit the Music Educator's National Conference site:
All students participate in our annual whole school sing-along in December, featuring multicultural songs from around the world.
Porters Point School holds at least one evening musical performance each year for family, friends and the community. These performances are held at Colchester High School in the Theatre. Because of the size of our student population, half of the school performs one night and the other half of the school performs the other night. We are very fortunate to have access to the Theatre at Colchester High School for these performances. It is an event not to be missed!
A FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: "Do you have the name of a music teacher in the area?" A local resource for people seeking private music instruction for themselves or their children is the Vermont Youth Orchestra Association. For more information on music teachers, music stores, repair shops, and more, visit their site:
ABOUT THE MUSIC TEACHER: Ms. Mutz has been teaching music education to students at Porters Point School and Union Memorial School since 1988. Prior to that, Ms. Mutz taught music at Westford School from 1986-1988 to students in Kindergarten through Eighth Grade, as well as Chorus, Band and Marching Band. From 1985-1986, Ms. Mutz taught music at Mallett's Bay School to Third-Fifth Graders, but that was only a one year position while the former music teacher, Ms. Allegra Miller taught at Colchester High School. Ms. Mutz's first music teaching experience was gained at Mater Christi School from 1982-1985, teaching Kindergarten through Eighth Grade music, including their instrumental program. Ms. Mutz went to Hartwick College for her undergraduate degree and her instrument concentration was pipe organ. She is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Music Education through Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas and expects to be completed within the next two years. Ms. Mutz is married with two teenage children. She also has a 7 year old dog, ten fish and a 10 year old cockatiel. She loves to spend time with her family, skiing, bike riding, taking walks with her dog, reading, and playing the piano.
Ms. Mutz
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