Ocean City Pops bring music to area students

One morning this fall at Ocean City’s Intermediate School, 60 students marched into the Band Room for a special program.
“We have a wonderful demonstration for you today,” Band Director Betsy Young announced to kids.
Standing at the front of the room, in their blue Ocean City Pops shirts, were pianist Jeffrey Uhlig and percussionist Mark O’Kain.
These professional musicians were there as part of a unique program underwritten by grants from the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Ocean City Home Charitable Foundation.
The grants were obtained by The Friends of the Ocean City Pops, Inc.
Jeffrey Uhlig and Mark O’Kain began their Ocean City class by performing a duet for marimba and piano. When the piece ended, O’Kain explained how the marimba, with its thick brown slats, made music.
“See these bars?” he told the class. “They are made out of a very hardwood called rosewood, and what I play them on are called mallets.”
A former percussionist with Opryland, USA, O’Kain asked the students to listen to the different tones he could make by using soft and hard mallets.
Then the musicians performed a romantic number originally composed for violin, providing another opportunity for instruction.
“At a concert,” Uhlig said, “a lot of people think the percussionist is going to play drums. That’s because drums are the most famous percussion instruments. But you can also play some very beautiful music with percussion.”
The Pops people prepared to play another piece composed for the violin: “Csardas,” by Vittorio Monti and based on Hungarian and gypsy themes.
Uhlig told the youngsters to watch O’Kain closely.
“Up to now, he’s played with one mallet in one hand, and one mallet in the other. In this piece, he’ll use two mallets in each hand, so he gets to play four notes instead of just two.”
Next was a discussion of the categories of different instruments, and the pianist asked the students to identify which group the piano belongs to.
“Strings,” answered one student.
“Percussion,” offered another youngster.
“Want to see why they’re both right?” asked Uhlig. He removed the piano’s wooden front panel. Gazing into the instrument’s innards, the students oohed and aahed as they learned how the piano works.
Attention spans never got a chance to wane, especially when O’Kain produced a half dozen unusual percussion instruments: tambourine, gong, castanets, and the exotic cricket, spring drum, and bell tree.
“Close your eyes and imagine what this sounds like,” he said, striking the carrot-shaped bell tree. Its magical tinkling prompted more than one student to respond: “Tinkerbell.”
Before the class ended, O’Kain and Uhlig performed “Back Talk,” written for marimba and piano. The ragtime beat had the young audience and teachers tapping toes and fingers. The kids applauded loudly before filing out of the Band Room.
During this fall semester, Uhlig and O’Kain also visited the Eugene A. Tighe Middle School in Margate, the Sandman Elementary School in Cape May, Dennisville Township Middle School in Dennisville, and Upper Township Middle School in Petersburg.
Another Pops team was a string trio with violinist Luigi Mazzocchi, violist Marka Kasker-Simmons, and cellist Tony Pirollo. They gave performances and lectures at Sandman Elementary and Upper Township Middle School.
After the Ocean City session, teacher Betsy Young provided an assessment of the program.
“Our students loved interacting with the musicians,” she said. “They watched and listened intently. The energy in the room was contagious, and all the young listeners were inspired to sign up for Band!”
The Pops musicians enjoy the sessions as well.
“In every class,” Mark O’Kain remarked, “the students seem genuinely interested and eager to learn about music, It is also a real pleasure to work with the music teachers. I am very impressed with the enthusiasm and commitment these teachers bring to the classroom.”
William Scheible, artistic director of the Ocean City Pops, and William Sundermeir, chairman of the Friends of the Ocean City Pops, Inc., praised the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders and Ocean City Charitable Foundation for their important investments in education.