Practicing their oomphs and eeeees

Suzie Harrison

They had a range that would impress Pavarotti. The students in Roxana

Ward’s chorus class at Thurston’s Middle School showed their talent

while rehearsing for their upcoming show in June that will be

performed together with the high school chorus.

“Let’s start singing in our pretty voices, everybody sit up and

start with ‘eeeeeee,’” Ward said.

While they warmed up, she asked for more “oomph” and told the

students to take a big chance. The students responded well and they

gave themselves a big round of applause. Enthusiasm and encouragement

weren’t lacking in this class.

“Now I know you can sing way up here,” Ward said.

Ward went from student to student giving each a turn to belt out

their notes.

First they focused on the rock ‘n’ roll part of the performance.

Ward explained that she wasn’t hearing any differentiation between

those who were singing the parts that were asking the question to

those answering.

“You’ve got to tell the story,” Ward said. “You go from telling a

story to [the song Yakety Yak] -- ‘take out the papers and the

trash.’”

Ward told them they needed to tweak how they sounded --

illustrating her point imitating the “wha, wha, wha, wha” nondescript

babble used for authority voices in Peanuts cartoons.

“The only way it works is if everybody commits to it,” Ward said.

The effect was exacted and they moved forward to the different

pieces and how to transition between them.

Through myriad rock classics they segued into their Walt Disney

tribute. They went into “Be Our Guests,” and those with solos had no

problem delivering.

The “All America” show will be on June 4 Clara Plomgren, 12, said.

“Every day we usually rehearse or learn songs and just perfect it

for the show,” Clara said.

Sam Piszkiewicz, 11, said having a good teacher is key.

“She’s really awesome, she’s got a lot of experience,” Sam said.

“Because she knows the piano, she knows how to do the harmony and

stuff.”

Alison Azera, 12, likes the variation in the show.

“I think it’s really cool that we’re learning rock ‘n’ roll and

Disney,” Alison said.