Live music has been hard hit during the 2020-2021 school year, but Wantagh Middle School strings students finally had the opportunity to perform as an ensemble on March 16 and March 17. 

“I set up Fiddle Day so that orchestra students could get motivated and excited about a performance opportunity this year,” music teacher Courtney Miller said. “Sixth graders have been asking all year when they will be able to play as an ensemble, so this was a way of finding a compromise.” 

Ms. Miller explained that fiddle tunes are a great way of reviewing basic string techniques, a focus during sixth grade lesson periods. Fiddle Day was also open to seventh and eighth grade students who have learned more advanced techniques such as time signatures, double stops and slides. There were two performance opportunities to accommodate both cohorts and to be able to maintain appropriate social-distancing protocols. Ms. Miller also thanked high school orchestra teacher Dana Langer who assisted in rehearsals and elementary school teacher Eliza DellaMonica who joined the performances. 

Each of the participants received a beaded shamrock necklace and the option to apply a temporary tattoo to their hand. 

“It was a great way to start the morning, and the students and faculty really enjoyed hearing the live music,” Ms. Miller added.