Northview — To watch Lou Sinigos work with the East Oakview Elementary hand chimes group is like watching an editor in action.
“You two don’t have something to play there, so I’m gonna work that out,” he tells one section of the third- and fourth-grade ensemble when they reach the end of a measure.
Later, as the students ring the final notes of the song, he pauses for a moment as the sound of the chimes reverberates through the music room.
“I think we need another note — I’m going to add another note there,” he says to no one in particular.
Sinigos, the East Oakview music teacher, makes these changes because he can — he arranged the music. This spring, the hand chimes ensemble performed his “Star Wars Chimes,” an original arrangement featuring musical themes from the movie “Star Wars,” at the school’s end-of-the-year talent show.
“I really like that he changed the music for us, putting all that work in so that we could play it,” said fourth-grader Alyssa Phillips, who plays the mid-range chimes. “With the original music, I think maybe he thought it was too hard for us, but with this (arrangement) I think we’re really getting the hang of it and it helps me develop the music.”
‘Hand chimes does not have a hierarchy; there’s no solos. We hold each other up to play the music together.’
— East Oakview music teacher Lou Sinigos
Music as a Team Sport
The East Oakview hand chimes ensemble is one of the school’s Belonging, Equity and Access midday groups that students can choose to join. With 22 third- and fourth- grade members this spring, the group gets to go beyond the basics covered in music class and learn how to perform together in public.
Hand chimes are similar to handbells, in that each ensemble member rings multiple notes and the group must work together to play their chimes at the exact right time to create melodies and harmonies. Sinigos calls hand chimes “the ultimate team sport in music.”
“Hand chimes does not have a hierarchy; there’s no solos,” he said. “We hold each other up to play the music together. It really builds confidence — that’s my first and foremost (emphasis). Then, if we can build some improvement in musical literacy on top of that, great!”
Since hand chimes rely on many different musical skills — sight reading, keeping the beat and counting measures, among others — Sinigos tries to pair students with differing strengths so that they can learn from and support each other while playing.
“They might look at their neighbor for help, and I encourage that,” he said. “And most of the time it’ll all come together for all of them.”
Being able to arrange a song to fit this specific ensemble and their individual skills is also a gift for the budding musicians. Siningos first arranged “Star Wars Chimes” for his students about a decade ago, but hasn’t brought it back into use until recently. He said this year’s ensemble was more than capable of tackling the piece.
“I made a lot of adaptations and edits because I could see what they needed and what they could do,” he said. “It’s a really good group, but even more so, they’re excited to learn it. … It’s really rewarding to hear them bring it to life.”
Learning by Leaning on Each Other
First-year ensemble member and fourth-grader Mason Cloherty recalled the first time he got to ring a chime with his teacher, back in kindergarten:
“(Sinigos) made us play just like two beats at a time (in kindergarten), and now we get to play a whole song. Since we’re older, I think we’re better at learning now. Like, if I hit a note directly on the beat, it makes me feel so good.”
Mason said being able to lean on his classmates for help when he’s struggling with things like keeping time has made him a better musician.
“Sometimes it’s tougher for me to count the beat in my head because, like, everything’s ringing around me and I can’t think straight,” he admitted. “In chimes you really rely on the beat, so sometimes if I mess up, I look to the person next to me who’s doing the same chimes and see what she’s doing so I can fix it.”
Mason also said he appreciates all the work Sinigos puts into directing and arranging music for the hand chimes.
“I think Mr. Sinigos just wants us to learn more about music, and he wants us to be ready for next year when we get to pick an instrument we get to play, which is why he does this,” said Mason, who hopes to play the trumpet or trombone in fifth grade next year. “I already love music, but (hand chimes) is making me really excited for (playing a new instrument) next year.”
Fellow ensemble member Alyssa agreed.
“I really like how Mr. Sinigos teaches all of us to play the chimes and how he makes music fun,” she said. “He does so much for us and I really think that this (class) helped me with music more. I’m going to a different school next year and I think (Sinigos) helped me a lot.”
Sinigos, who is retiring — for the second time — this month, ducked his head as he overheard the students’ comments.
“The best part of teaching is learning from your students,” he said. “I tell them, (hand chimes) is the hardest thing, musically, we do in this school, and they’re up to the challenge. … I see (my students) as human beings. I see their collaboration and the relationships they have mended or created here. To me, they’re magical.”
Read more from Northview:
• ‘Uniquely talented’ a cappella ensemble finds the right beat
• Not just a volunteer, but ‘a piece of the library’
