Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susie Pickering
Oak Lane Day School
137 Stenton Avenue, Blue Bell, PA 19422
Phone: 610-825-1055
Fax: 610-825-9288
Email: spickering@oaklanedayschool.org

Oak Lane Day School Musicians "On Tour"

Recently, the Oak Lane Day School Chorus, Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and Recorder Consort embarked on a tour of four Philadelphia preschools to share their musical ability and the fun that they have singing and playing as a group. The Oak Lane fourth through sixth grade students along with school secretary Julie Leader-Smith playing piano and sixth grade teacher Martha Butler playing guitar and recorder performed at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Preschool, the Co-Op Nursery at the Germantown Unitarian Church, Community Partnership School (CPS) in North Philadelphia, and Big Back Yard in Mt. Airy.

Led by Oak Lane music teacher Marlis Kraft-Zemel, the students presented pieces that they have been working on since the beginning of the school year and performed at the school's Winter Concert. Their knowledge of and proficiency with the musical works were well displayed as they delighted their audiences with dynamic and energetic performances, which included a flashy dance piece choreographed to "I Got Rhythm." This was an important concert for the group as it helped them to progress as musicians and performers. "Repertoire is not fully absorbed after one concert," explained Kraft-Zemel. "It is in the repeated performance and the ability to play by heart, when you are able to look out at your audience, that is where true musicianship and self-confidence grows!"

After the concerts, the Oak Lane students were given an opportunity to reflect on the experience, and they expressed how much they loved playing for the preschool children. Apparently, it showed. Charley Muir, Community Partnership School Project Coordinator, had this to say about the concert at his school: "I believe that the participants were enjoying themselves every bit as much as we the audience. Whether it was singing, dancing, recorder playing, or drumming instrumental, each element was great. CPS was very lucky to be included on the 'road trip'."

Oak Lane Day School Information
An independent elementary school, founded in 1916 and located in Blue Bell, Oak Lane Day School serves a diverse population of boys and girls. Oak Lane honors each child's unique individuality while fostering intellectual, creative, academic, and personal growth within a diverse community of active, engaged learners. Small class sizes and an atmosphere that encourages children to develop their academic and social skills are priorities at Oak Lane, where learning is a meaningful and joyous pursuit. Oak Lane's country-like property of 30 acres along Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue boasts a stream, pond, woods, meadows, and specimen trees as well as athletic fields and playgrounds.

Oak Lane Day School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS).