ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 19, 1996 TAG: 9611190029
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Fidgeting, wriggling, giggling young bodies quickly grew still when Connie Russell raised her arms in a frozen conductor's pose.
Then, from the mouths of 9- and 10-year-old babes came a blast of strong, harmonious voices singing the lyrics to "Music Brings Us Together."
Russell, a music teacher who works with all Pulaski County elementary schools, has brought talented voices together for four years. The Pulaski County Melodies provides the only organized chorus that works with these pint-sized talents.
The 60 or so pupils, who must audition for a spot in the chorus, have performed across the New River Valley and even made it as far as the state capitol. They travel from all eight county elementary schools once a week to practice.
Elementary choruses aren't common, Russell said. It's no wonder, watching the easily distracted, albeit good-intentioned, fourth- through sixth-graders as they sit, stand, sing and try to stay focused.
"Your stage presence is just as important as what comes out of your mouth," Russell told her pupils at a recent practice. "Altos, you have got to keep your eyes on me."
The Melodies currently are practicing about 14 songs, from the pick-a-bale-of-cotton standard "American Folk Rhapsody" to the festive holiday song "Happy Winter."
The melody makers not only improve their singing and musical repertoire, Russell said, they build character.
"This builds self-esteem. We have some children that are problems discipline-wise until they get in this group, then they straighten right up," Russell said.
The group is scheduled to perform at two elementary schools, a nursing home and the New River Valley Mall. That petrifies some, Russell said, but "it's the meek ones that this experience helps the most."
Forrest Surber, one of the few sixth-graders in the chorus and a self-admitted ham, said that doesn't scare him at all.
"I like singing and getting up in front of people; I don't mind. Last year, I was the wolf, and I wore this costume in front of all these people " he said, referring to the song "The Three Howling Pigs," which the chorus acted out for a performance.
His mother, Donna Surber, said she doesn't mind the commute to practice because there is no chorus in sixth grade.
"When he was chosen, I was kind of surprised. He had such a beautiful voice I had no idea that he was gifted musically," she said. "He looks forward to going every week."
Forrest's next goal? "He wants me to write a letter to President Clinton to get them to sing at the White House," Surber said.
She's still pondering that one.
The Pulaski County Melodies will give its first performance of the year at Draper Elementary School at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GENE DALTON/Staff. 1. Connie Russell leads the Pulaskiby CNBCounty Melodies in a rehearsal at Critzer Elementary School. 2.
Victor Horton belts out his part at a rehearsal of the Pulaski
County Melodies. color.