As you step below the ground floor of Stuart, past the front desk and the hallway to the lower school, you’re immersed in striking purple walls, surrounded by bright and bold posters of all kinds of musicals. You’ll hear the distant melody of a lower schooler testing out the recorder, and the jumbled chatter mirroring the footsteps of students on their way through the halls lined by productions of Stuart past. This is the main center of the music department, its newest faculty edition being Ms.Bartschat, the Middle and Upper school music teacher.
Prior to her position here, she taught private music lessons, worked in various high school and elementary music programs, and has held Student Teacher positions at other schools. However, her affinity for teaching melody and tempo started long before, dating back to her high school years where she taught elementary kids the piano and conducted her school’s all-girl choir. At Stuart, she exercises her experience by leading all five of the choirs across our student body, working with the eighth-grade and high school musical productions, as well as teaching several music classes.
From standing on choir risers to conducting in front of them, Ms. Bartschat understands what makes up a good music or performing arts teacher. Firstly, they must “be willing to put [themselves] out there… [and bring their] own joy and musicality to the classroom, because if that’s not there, how can [they] ever expect someone else to sing out and be joyful in the space themselves?” Secondly, “[they] have to be really excited about getting to know [their] students”. Their voices are valuable, and if they feel lost in the crowd, they may find it difficult to believe their contribution is being noticed.
In her work with the musical, she notes the remarkable dedication Stuart girls have to the songs. She is able to guide their performance while they take charge of learning the notes. Her favorite part of the production is when the band begins attending rehearsals, enjoying the connection between the live score and singers. “That’s why I’m drawn to music,” she explained, “it’s a way for people to join together in something so inherently human.”
Though, this kind of harmony is hard-earned. Many performers feel the weight of tech week, an infamous trial of combining and combing through all parts of the show so the audience can enjoy a seamless night of entertainment, something Ms.Bartschat has had her fair share of. She described how energy loss may appear in other areas of daily life when committing yourself so intensely to one part of it, so it’s important to make your routine easier for yourself. Prepare meals and snacks (gummy bears, by professional suggestion), drink water, and prioritize sleep. Though this checklist is derived from a performing arts perspective, it is not limited to that experience. When first hearing her advice, it appeared to me as a survival checklist, but she described it simply as “taking care of yourself”, an important distinction. As a member of Tartan Tones, an Upper School choir here at Stuart, it reminded me of the way she guides our group through new melodies by slowing down the tempo. What is at first stressful and confusing eventually becomes natural. Taking care in the preparation stage is necessary for a good performance, and life is not so different. Ms.Bartschat’s experience with this art, whether “soundtrack-ing” her life through playlists and favorites like James Taylor and Madison Cunningham, writing and producing music, or instructing others, has informed her of how music intertwines with the human experience, something she finds joy in teaching. She remarked that when leading music production classes, “it’s gratifying to see and be a part of someone going through the process of saying something about themselves.”
“Music is a verb”, she said, describing a musical theory called “musicking” that comes from Christopher Small. It’s the idea that the “music” starts as soon as you walk into a performance venue. It’s the harmony between the performer, the listeners, their presence in community, and the atmosphere. “It’s something so important. Nothing could ever really replace it.” That being said, Stuart’s spring concert is coming up on April 16th, a perfect place for this experience. Additionally, we encourage you to check the calendar on the Stuart website for future performances. Ms.Bartschat’s contributions to the Stuart community are felt across all school divisions, and we are glad to welcome her as Human of the Heart.
