CDC music program features homemade instruments

Photo By Brian Parker | Brianna Gilbert, right, 5, sings with Ashley Tomlinson, 5, during the Strong Beginnings concert Aug. 16 at the Cody Child Development Center. (Photo By Rachel Larue)  

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, UNITED STATES

08.16.2013

Courtesy Story

Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall

By Julia LeDoux, Pentagram Staff Writer

JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. -Call them the Cody Child Development Center idols.

Students in the Strong Beginnings pre-kindergarten classes put on their annual music presentation Aug. 16, delighting parents and center staff with renditions of children’s classics played with instruments they made themselves.

"It was a weeklong process," said teacher Shirley Roseboro of the preparation that went into the concert. "Anything they had at home to make instruments, they brought in."

Kids from the Blue Jay classroom formed the Blue Jay Blues Brothers band while those in the Robins classroom became the Tye Dye Rock Band, even donning tie-dyed tee shirts for the occasion.

"They’ve been looking forward to this all week," said Joanna Balteo, whose son, Trevor, 4, rocked out with the Tye Dye band. "He and his brother like to get their band out in the living room."

Melissa Picco proudly pointed to her son, Jonathan, who was playing a harmonica.

"Like a lot of kids, he loves music and he is very curious about it. They’ve been really creative this week and incorporated a recycling element."

The kids happily performed using homemade tambourines, drums and other instruments.

Dave Tomlinson took time off from his day job at the Pentagon to "moonlight" at the event, singing "Itsy Bitsy Spider" with his daughters, Ashley, 5, and Cate, 2.

"It was really cool," he said. "Ashley was excited all week for it. She knew the time, she knew the date, she knew everything about it."

• Date Taken: 08.16.2013
• Date Posted: 08.23.2013 10:58
• Story ID: 112483
• Location: JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VA, US