TEACHER'S CORNER: MUSIC CLASS LETS STUDENTS GAIN PERFORMANCE SKILLS, CONFIDENCE

In Ellen Seyer's classroom, students constantly receive "hands-on" training. Seyer teaches music at Notre Dame High School and "hands-on" is the key to a successful program, she said.

"I believe that a music program must be performance-oriented for the students to truly understand the music experience," Seyer said.

Seyer has been teaching at Notre Dame six years. In her classes, students experience the study and singing of music literature as well as training in a wide variety of musical styles.

Notre Dame choirs, under her direction, consistently receive high honors at state and district music festivals. In addition to performing at school functions like the Christmas program, graduation and sporting events, the choirs are frequent guest performers at area hospitals, retirement centers and civic organizations.

Over the past several years, Seyer initiated and organizes an "Evening of Grade School Music." The event showcases musical talents, both vocally and instrumentally, of area parochial elementary students, plus Notre Dame's Concert Choir, Treble Choir and band.

Seyer has a master of music education, a master of education and a bachelor of arts in education. She is a member and current president of the local Girardot Rose Chorus of the Sweet Adelines International. She is also a member of the Music Educators National Conference and American Choral Directors' Association. She is also organist and cantor for Old St. Vincent's Church in Cape Girardeau.

She and her husband, Dennis C. Seyer, have two children.

"In the teaching of vocal music my greatest reward is observing a student grow and develop vocally over a high school career," she said, "Especially a student who was vocally shy as a freshman, who in turn, blossoms into a vocally mature and confident performer as a senior.

"This process is observed in the classroom as well as co-curricular performances and extra-curricular experiences, namely Notre Dame's annual musical."