PACIFIC BEACH – As it is an International Baccalaureate school, all Pacific Beach Middle students, grades 6-8, are required to perform community service each year.
In eighth grade, their volunteer service is formalized in a six-month effort to benefit the good in the greater Pacific Beach community. Working individually or in small groups, students select a topic that will result in a larger community benefit. The project details require month-by-month planning, advertising, and the project’s focused activity.
Community service projects were scheduled to be presented at the IB Showcase on Thursday, March 12, from 5-7 p.m. at the middle school.
Eighth-grade musicians Tate Falcone and Giovanni Gemelli held two community concerts at local retirement homes as the focus of their community service project. Falcone and Gemelli are both part of the advanced instrumental music program at Pacific Beach Middle and are alumni of Crown Point Junior Music Academy.
“When I was 6 years old, my dad took me to his friend’s house, and we would play and sing songs on instruments,” Falcone said. “His friend had many different instruments and equipment. I enjoy the saxophone, any type, alto, tenor, baritone, and soprano.”
Gemelli’s instrument of choice is the violin. “I was 5 years old when I started playing the violin, and I have loved it ever since,” Gemelli said.
Their project, “Songs for Seniors,” was influenced by their close relationship with their grandparents. Gemelli’s research for their community service project found a 2019 study that revealed people who listened to classical music every day for two months had significantly lower levels of anxiety.
“Our research also indicated music can reduce loneliness and social isolation among seniors,” Falcone said. “Familiar songs from a person’s youth or teenage years can instantly transport someone to a significant life event.”
The project’s rehearsals and practice culminated in two February concerts. The first concert at ActivCare in Pacific Beach included a full complement of music students from Pacific Beach Middle. The second concert at Atria la Jolla featured the Gemelli/Falcone duo playing a medley of songs, both individually and as a duet.
“We met our statement of intent by bringing about 150 seniors together to share a common love of music,” Gemelli said. “I learned that when you do something to help out your community, it fills you with a sense of joy and pride.
“We impacted a lot of seniors, helping them come together to interact with each other and share a sense of community with music as the medium. I am more likely to volunteer now because I see and feel the impact of our service. Seeing the happiness on their faces showed me that the results of our hard work were worth it.”
“People in our audiences looked very happy and told us they loved the performance,” Falcone added. “I learned that people love music and enjoyed having us there. They rarely get live music, so it gave me joy to see them dancing, clapping, and loving the performance. I already have another performance planned at a nursing home, so I will definitely do community service again.”
Hence then, the article about eighth grade students play music to seniors for service project was published today ( ) and is available on Times of San Diego ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Eighth grade students play music to seniors for service project )
Also on site :