In 2012, two RCDS Upper School students founded A-Chord with Kids, a volunteer program through which Upper School students share their love, knowledge, and appreciation of music with children at the Port Chester Carver Center. The program offers two "seasons" each academic year, meeting on Saturday mornings, and pairing roughly a dozen children with RCDS student mentors/musicians. Throughout the seasons, students explore different instruments with one-on-one instruction and are exposed to both music theory and basic music composition.
To wrap up the end of the 13th season, RCDS students hosted a fun and festive, musical party at the Carver Center.
During the sessions, students explore different instruments with one-on-one instruction and are exposed to both music theory and basic music composition. For club co-presidents, Evalise Melgar and Valeria Morales Ciriaco, experiencing the progression of their student-musicians is the most rewarding aspect of the program. With many students returning from previous seasons, RCDS mentors have the opportunity to strengthen bonds and observe each student's musical growth. "I felt joy helping the students progress on their path towards being a musician," expressed Melgar. While Morales Ciriaco reflected, "I remember teaching my student the recorder and basic music theory, and now she's excelling with the trumpet and has even played me a couple of tunes."
RCDS would like to share a special thank you to the 12 RCDS students who volunteered for this season's program:
- Evalise Melgar '20 - Co-President
- Valeria Morales Ciriaco '20 - Co-President
- Christopher Casale '22
- Andrew Felton '21
- Cameron Goddard '21
- Francisco Gonzalez '21
- Jose Gonzalez '22
- Matthew Harkness '21
- Greyson Humphrey '21
- Sophia Jindal '19
- Jason Russo '21
- David Thurston '21
- Jialin Yang '19
Upper School students who are interested in volunteering for the upcoming season should contact Evalise, Valeria or Stephanie Melgar at stephanie_melgar@ryecountryday.org.