Sr. Marie Racine, OSB – Music Teacher K-8
I earned my B.S. Degree from Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and worked for several years as a Software Engineer in Massachusetts. After entering Our Lady of Grace Monastery in Beech Grove, Indiana in 2000, I attended the University of Indianapolis and earned an equivalency to a Bachelor of Music, along with my Music Teaching License. This past summer, I earned my Orff-Schulwerk Level I Certification, a music teaching methodology that incorporates speech, singing, movement, and playing music, using music and speech pieces from our folk heritage.
This is my third year teaching music to all of our students at St. Malachy School. Music is such an innate part of our experience as human beings. So, I provide our students with opportunities to explore and express music through speech, singing, movement, listening, and playing instruments. I also introduce our students to famous composers and their music from the different historical music periods.
This year, we are fortunate to have been able to purchase several Orff instruments. These are barred instruments – glockenspiels and xylophones. These, along with a variety of classroom instruments, will give the students in all grades an opportunity to more fully engage in their music learning. In addition, students in grades 3 – 5 will learn to play recorder. Middle School students will explore different periods of Music History and learn to play hand chimes. My ultimate goal as Music Teacher at St. Malachy School is to nurture the love for music that our students already possess, and to provide ways for them to experience joy in creating music. It is my hope that they will enjoy a lifetime love of music.
I am also the director of our St. Malachy Parish School choir for students in grades 5-8. Our SMS Choir practices sings at our weekly All-School Masses. Mrs. Kristine Allen is our accompanist. Singing in our school choir provides the students with a wonderful way to use their gifts to give praise to God in service to their school and church community, and grow musically. It is my hope that this experience will instill in these students a desire to continue to serve their church as they grow into adulthood.