The Paterson Music Project was all ears yesterday, when "Mr. George"Marriner Maull came to lead a lesson in music listening!  His subject was the last movement of the Fourth Brandenburg; clearly no one warned him that second-graders can't understand Bach.

Come to find out -- second-graders can absolutely understand Bach, at least when Mr. George is leaping about, impersonating now the violas, now the cellos, now the violins.  The kids counted appearances of the theme, yelled "Duh! Duh!" in unison along with the big chords, guessed correctly the identity of the recorder when it came in -- and a few even noticed when he tried to fool them by playing a different piece of music.  Many of the kids played along with great gusto on their air violins and air cellos.

After Mr. George left, the kids got back to the business of making music themselves.  I haven't visited for six weeks or so and was astounded at how much progress they have made; they are playing multiple notes and rhythms on instruments they didn't know how to pick up, last time I was there.  Just as striking was an overall sense of pride and accomplishment among most of the children, and an understanding that they are working as a team.  Bravo to all!  I can't wait to visit again.