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Monday, March 30, 2009 10:42 AM Singer helps students hone musical skills By Stephanie Creech | Times Senior Writer Andrew Bates had heard people say that opera is long and boring. But the fifth-grader at the Sallie B. Howard School for Arts and Education found out first hand that opera isn't boring. In fact, Andrew learned during a presentation by Devonna Barnes Rowe, a Wilson native and Fike High School graduate, that techniques she uses as a professional singer and voice instructor, can be applied to his saxophone playing in the school band. Andrew said one of the first things he does during band class is to practice his breathing exercises. How to breathe properly was just one of the things Rowe covered with the students. She also gave them tips on proper posture and stressed the importance of listening to instruction so they will be able in the future to pass along their knowledge to others. Passing along her knowledge and love of music are two of the reasons why Rowe spends breaks from her teaching responsibilities at Morgan State University and the Peabody Institute of Music working with students and teachers. "If you listen and you learn, you will be able to pass it along to someone else," Rowe said. Rowe led classes for Howard students who are studying drama, choral music and band. Rowe's former music teacher, Ruth B. Stokes, attended the sessions. Stokes, who is retired, taught Rowe when Rowe attended the former Darden High School. Stokes said it was wonderful to have Rowe come back to Wilson. The two have kept in contact over the years. Stokes remembers how Rowe was always attentive in music class and the potential she saw in Rowe. Stokes likes how students have a way of doing greater things than their teachers did. "Just like you many years ago, she was very attentive," Stokes said of Rowe. Rowe, a soprano, holds a master's degree in vocal performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned a bachelor's degree in music education from St. Augustine's College and has done additional music study at the Aspen Music School in Colorado and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Austria. Rowe has performed in different venues across the United States and Europe. She also works as a consultant for arts programs offered through the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Maryland State Arts Council, the South Carolina Arts Commission and United Arts. Rowe lives in Maryland. Rowe's love of music was nurtured by her mother, who was a church pianist. Rowe said during her junior and senior years in high school she decided to go into music even though she could have just as easily pursued a career related to math, which she enjoyed. Rowe said she sees the sessions with the students as an opportunity to broaden the students' knowledge of different forms of music. Rowe taught the students an African song, "The Leader Chooses a Successor," and also a Latin piece, "Dona Noris Pacem," which means grant us peace. The students sang "Dona Noris Pacem" as a round. Rowe sang an aria from Giacomo Puccini's opera, "Tosca," and the piece, "Summertime" from George Gershwin's opera, "Porgy and Bess." Rowe explained to the students that proper breathing techniques are important because portraying different characters demands different postures. Characters are often moving on a stage and, sometimes, break into song while talking. Like Andrew, Pashion Hinnant, a fourth-grader, said she'd never listened to opera before the session with Rowe. Pashion's focus is on choral music. "I learned how to breathe longer," Pashion said of the class. |
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