![]() How many high schools can say that?”Īs for where he sees the music program going, Mr. “And our students create amazing music in it. “We have a professional recording studio,” Mr. Growing each year, digital music has become one of the performing arts department’s more popular courses as students escape to the School’s recording studio and use software such as Logic ProX to produce professional-quality recordings. Manni proudly relays, just released his first professionally produced album. One of the course’s first digital music graduates, Wils Acker ’19, Mr. Manni also established a digital music program at the School, hoping to challenge students, both technically and conceptually, to create, record and produce their own music. With the support of the administration, Mr. This year, the Singers chose Sadie Donnelly ’22 to lead “Over the Rainbow” during the seniors’ final performance, the Spring Concert. Manni notes, have consistently recognized great musicianship in the students they have chosen to lead. As part of that, students elect their own student conductor.” Blair’s vocalists, Mr. “The students are in partnership with me, and it’s really important to give them ownership over their work. “I have a student-centered teaching philosophy,” he explains. Shortly after he assumed his new role as Director of Vocal Music, he also created the position of student conductor, giving students leadership opportunities. Manni broke the choir into high and low voice ensembles, for example, giving vocalists the option to work in more groups and be challenged. Manni’s expansive vision for the vocal program at Blair he has no shortage of ideas to spur his students’ growth. They give me a wide berth to choose what we can do.”Ĭhanging the physical layout of the music room has been just a small part of Mr. “I’ve had pedagogical autonomy to create a program and to work in a place that supports the choices I make. “This position has been a dream come true to me,” he explains. Manni did not expect, he says, was to be given such broad support to develop the School’s musical programs. ![]() He felt excited at the prospect of directing Blair’s fours singing groups-the Singers, Sopralti, Treble Choir, Blairitones and Chamber Choir-and prepared to step into the role of teacher of Blair’s AP music theory and digital music classes. He had performed on some of the world’s great stages, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and participated as a full conductor at the Choral Institute at Oxford. He had studied with leading choral conductors and was a member of the Grammy-nominated Westminster Williamson Voices and Symphonic Choir. ![]() Manni came to Blair in 2016 and brought rich musical experience with him. Most importantly, he thought, he saw students singing with an abundance of joy.Ī summa cum laude graduate of Westminster Choir College, Mr. They were experimenting with their musicianship and building new connections with one another. The removal of the risers meant students were moving more. Manni saw evidence that his plan was working. As he reflected on the day’s classes, Mr. The risers, long a staple of many music rooms, had been removed to allow students more movement in the room. As he looked around the room, he felt satisfied with the transformation. Blair’s Director of Vocal Music Ryan Manni sat in the music room of the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts after wrapping up a day of teaching, his fingers resting on the piano.
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