Beethoven, Gershwin Visit

Newtown Schools

By Tanjua Damon

Many students do not know that the tunes they hear on cartoons or other television programs come from classical composers who were alive during the 1700s and 1800s. But thanks to cultural arts programs at Hawley and Middle Gate, elementary school students were exposed to the work of classical composers.

“Meet the Musicians” is performed by Dennis Kobray, who began playing the piano at five. His early studies were with a Juilliard-trained teacher. He went on to attend Brooklyn College, where he co-majored in music and history. He continued his education at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. “Meet the Musicians” was created in 1986. Mr Kobray transforms himself into eight different composers: Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Chopin, Brahms, Gershwin, and Joplin.

During the presentations, Mr Kobray talks to students about each musician’s life and plays for them classical music that they created. His presentations come with a message about working hard to accomplish goals and believing in oneself.

“Kids are not exposed to classical and concert hall music anymore,” Mr Kobray said. “I saw that kids just don’t know famous stuff. This is my mission.”

Hawley students heard about Ludwig van Beethoven Wednesday, September 5, and they learned that music is like language.

“All over the world people tell me they still like to listen to the works of Beethoven,” said Mr Kobray in his portrayal of Beethoven. “Music is a language, and when you listen to someone’s music you have to listen to more than just notes and sounds. You have to know who that person was.”

Beethoven was born on December 16, 1770, in Germany. He was four years old when he began music lessons. When he was 26 he began having a difficult time hearing. He could no longer hear sounds, but his head was filled with the ones he could not hear.

“Everybody can be good at something if they try hard,” he said. “You can’t be like someone else. You don’t want to. You want to be yourself. Deafness taught me that anyone can have a dream.”

Beethoven died at the age of 56 in 1827. Over 20,000 people went to his funeral to pay their respects.

“He’s alive because his music is alive,” Mr Kobray said. “If we listen to it we keep their spirit alive and Beethoven will live forever.”

On the same day, Middle Gate students experienced the life and music of George Gershwin. He was born in New York City on September 26, 1898. Gershwin died on July 11, 1937, at the young age of 38. He quit school in his junior year to become a musician.

“I did know a lot about music. But there was a lot I didn’t know,” said Mr Kobray portraying Gershwin, the high school dropout. “I wish I could fix that.”

Gershwin wrote over 700 pieces of music for the opera, concert hall, and movies during his lifetime. He also produced over 100 songs for Broadway.

“Musicians can tell stories better this way than we can with words,” he said. “Music saved me.”

The Parent Teacher Associations (PTA) at both schools sponsored the cultural arts program “Meet the Musicians.”