A large audience gathered on Feb. 23, at The Plaza Arts Center in Eatonton, where Putnam County Primary and Elementary School students presented a musical Black History Month program in front of family and friends.
The organizers of the program included PCPS and PCES teachers Jeremy Skidmore, Sarah Higgins, Pegz Fazio and Felicia Watkins. Elementary school music teacher Skidmore said he and Higgins, his counterpart at PCPS, decided to feature songs from African American artists who influenced the music of today, but with a slight twist – the theme being each song had to be a remix.
According to Skidmore, the program included students from kindergarten through fifth grade who signed up to participate after the Christmas break.
Everyone practiced together outside school hours, once a week for six weeks.
“I am particularly proud of the performance with glow sticks,” Skidmore said. “I was the one who decided to have the students decorate their clothing with glow sticks, but fifth graders came up with their own dance and chose this song (“JuJu on That Beat” by Zay Hilfigerrr and Zayion McCall, remixed by Club Killers), on their own.
Fifth-grader Kamryn Hill led the dance and taught it to the other fifth-grade students. I am so proud of her and all of them.”
He added that students learned about several artists who have influenced current popular music culture.
“They also learned about the meaning behind the African American National anthem ‘Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing’ and the significance of the song,” Skidmore pointed out.
“It is very important to celebrate Black History because there are many musical artists of African descent who have been overlooked due to cultural ignorance. The music we presented from African American artists has made a huge impact on the music we listen to today.”