Beatles love: Students from Nederland, Gold Hill, and Jamestown Elementary Schools performed a night of Beatles music. The fourth-grade class from Nederland Elementary sang “Eleanor Rigby” and “8 Days a Week.”[/caption]

The music of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon has been a part of our musical culture since the 1960s. Generations have been touched by their lyrics, melodies, and their connection with their audience.

If the students at Nederland, Jamestown, and Gold Hill Elementary Schools did not know The Beatles’ music before, they have now been immersed in it. Music teacher Kirk Kubicek, who teaches at all three schools, has been preparing the students for the Beatlemania concert for months.

There was a full house at the Nederland Elementary School (NES) gymnasium on the night of Beatlemania. The students created a rainbow with the assigned colors of their t-shirts. The buzz in the gym got louder as more students and families came in after an all-school spaghetti dinner, and as the Sgt. Pepper’s Beatlemania Band warmed up.

The band was comprised of parents, alumni, and the fifth grade orchestra teacher. Kajsa Teitelbaum was on piano, Dave Solzberg on bass, Christine Mallery on violin/ cello/flute/clarinet, Asher Hughes on drums, Lonnie Howell and Randy Dulude on guitar.

Beautiful music: First graders sang “Octopus’s Garden” and “Yellow Submarine” for the Beatle-loving audience. [/caption]

The concert started out with all the students singing “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “With a Little Help From My Friends.” Elementary school is all about friendships…it was a great way to start the evening.

The kindergarteners from NES came on stage and sang “The Word” and “Twist ‘n’ Shout.” The first graders sang “Octopus’s Garden” by Ringo Starr, and “Yellow Submarine.” Then, the fifth grade band and orchestra performed a few tunes with Christine Mallery directing.

Second graders performed “When I’m 64” and “Hello Goodbye.” The third graders then took the stage and sang “Here Comes the Sun” and “All You Need Is Love.”

The students from Jamestown and Gold Hill Elementary Schools entertained the audience with “Dear Prudence” and “All Together Now.”

The NES fourth graders came on stage and changed the mood in the room. While The Beatles wrote and sang upbeat and lively songs, they also created some that made us think about each other and the human condition – even loneliness. The fourth graders sang “Eleanor Rigby” and then finished with “8 Days a Week.”

The fifth graders from NES sang “Blackbird” and “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da.”[/caption]

The fifth graders also started with a song that carries emotion and cultural meaning from the 1960s and even into today, “Blackbird.” They continued with the calypso-based “Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da.”

The evening ended with all the students beautifully singing “Hey Jude” and the show closed with “Sgt. Pepper Reprise.”

The students from all three schools not only sang the songs, they had movement for all of them. From the youngest to the oldest, they knew the choreography, lyrics, and music. It was a superb concert.

The Beatles’ music carries a positive vibe and loving spirit that few other musicians have ever matched. Their music transcends generations. The students of Gold Hill, Jamestown, and Nederland Elementary Schools are carrying on the legacy of The Beatles’ songbook by continuing to sing their songs and understand the timelessness of the work of John, Paul, George, and Ringo.