“Ode to Joy” brings EMSB together for a month of music

As part of celebrating music during the month of January, schools across the English Montreal School Board (EMSB) were invited to submit a recorded instrumental or vocal performance of “Ode to Joy” or another song for a video montage to showcase the musical talents of EMSB students.

This 19th century classic, part of Ludwig van Beethoven’s final movement of his famous Ninth Symphony, has a melody familiar across generations. “Beethoven wrote this piece for unity, joy and friendship,” said Melina Catalano, EMSB’s Educational Consultant for the music Arts-études program at Rosemount High School. “We wanted to bring schools together in the month of January in celebration of music, so why not connect them all together singing or playing this beautiful piece of music.”

Many students are taught the piece, even those in early elementary school, because the melody is so recognizable. “I teach ‘Ode to Joy’ because the melody inspires them to play well,” said Nick Batzios, music specialist at Willingdon Elementary School in NDG. “They want to play the melody on the recorder over and over. Some of the students transfer their knowledge onto another instrument, and they play the melody on the piano or metallophone.”

He also described the piece as having a simple yet very effective melody, making it a useful teaching tool for students to learn about repetition and musical form.

Describing the piece as joyful and positive, Mr. Batzios said “students find the song appealing because it puts them in a good mood, and they learn to listen to each other to play the rhythm correctly. They also find it relatable and link their music skills to life skills. Listening to each other in a musical setting helps you play in tune. Listening to friends and family helps you to live in harmony.”

Beethoven’s musical adaption of “Ode to Joy” originates from the poem, “An die Freude,” written by German poet Friedrich Schiller in 1785. The musical piece has stood the test of time, played by myriads of orchestras and opera singers around the world and remains the anthem of the European Union.

Ode to Joy” is a piece often included in recorder methods such as “Recorder Karate,” where students learn and perform pieces to earn their “belts.” This method serves as a teaching tool for many elementary music teachers to facilitate recorder instruction, an instrument recommended for teaching at the elementary level as of Cycle 2 of the Quebec Education Program.