Some of Hawaii’s most popular musical artists have appeared before an unlikely audience, who are from a small elementary school on Oahu’s coast.
They all come with a purpose: The headmaster dreamed up the virtual concerts, presenting artists like internationally famous ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro, as a way of bringing together a community struggling with the pandemic. “We have probably the best ukulele player — one of the best ukulele musicians in the entire world — come and play for you guys tonight,” said Headmaster Keoki Fraser as children and parents tuned in from home computers. Fraser is trying to organize concerts every several weeks as his school, like most public schools in Hawaii, continues to educate its students remotely.
Tabitha Persaud, mom of three students, remembers Fraser coming to the parent-teacher association with the idea of approaching big names. “Can we do that?” she wondered. “Will they do that for us?”
“They’re in the same situation as we are. So, I mean, they don’t have to go anywhere or leave their home. We just hit them up,” said Fraser, who graduated from the local high school. “We love to get people that are influential and the kids look up to.”
During a recent Friday concert, Fraser invited former student Dylan Kunz, now a seventh grader, to play ukulele as one of the student performers to open for Shimabukuro. Kunz, who likes Shimabukuro, was excited. “He’s the reason I started playing,” he said. “It keeps me motivated to keep playing.”
The concerts are open to all. For one performance, about 1,200 viewers tuned in. “I think it’s so much fun to see the smiling, happy faces of all the kids,” said Amy Kunz, Dylan’s mom. “I think Headmaster Fraser, in doing this, is really hitting home from social and emotional aspects. Even though we’re not in school, we can still make these connections and have fun.”
7. What’s Headmaster Fraser’s purpose in organizing the concerts?
A.To encourage his students to learn from the musicians. |
B.To develop closer ties between educators and kids. |
C.To get his community united in the pandemic. |
D.To strengthen the parent-teacher relations. |
8. What concerned Tabitha Persaud before the concert?
A.Whether her family would be allowed to attend it. |
B.Whether players like Shimabukuro would show up. |
C.Whether Headmaster Fraser would agree with her idea. |
D.Whether the parent-teacher association would break up. |
9. What does the underlined part “hit them up” in the paragraph 4 mean?
A.Cheer them up. | B.Ask them for help. |
C.Teach them a lesson. | D.Compete with them. |
10. How did Amy Kunz respond to Headmaster Fraser’s behavior?
A.Grateful. | B.Curious. | C.Doubtful. | D.Worried |