A North Star Musical Production

North Tama Elementary
Traer, Iowa

The North Star Musical Journey was performed during the North Tama Elementary Winter Concert on December 19, 2007. As a small, rural school, the North Tama Winter Concert is typically filled with traditional Christmas music. Since the story of Christmas uses a star as a main symbol, it seemed like a good fit to feature the North Star’s story about a journey toward a star.

The show began with all 225 students in grades one through six singing “Journey,” followed by combinations of fourth through sixth grade classes performing the remaining songs. Five sixth grade students played the main characters and the narrating duties were divided between three different students.

Before beginning to learn the music, I read each class The North Star. The students’ reactions to the story were extremely positive. With every class, after I read the story I asked, “What kind of story ends with the words ‘the beginning’?” The classes immediately understood the concept of life as a journey and that although the book had ended, life was just beginning. When they began learning songs, it was unlike any previous concert preparation experiences, the students were excited to sing the songs time and time again.

A crowd of over seven hundred was in attendance. Members of the audience were touched by the message of the story and the excitement of the children. There was more than one misty eye!

Terry Shay, 2-12 Vocal Music Teacher
North Tama County Community School
Traer, IA

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