Bramlett Elementary School has formed its first-ever first-grade choir, and 38 young students are already preparing to share their voices with the community. The ensemble, established this year by music teacher Rickey Raine, marks a new chapter for early music education at the school.
A Choir Built for Confidence and Early Musical Growth
Raine created the choir with two clear goals: helping first graders discover their own voices and building their confidence, while also nurturing an early love of music. The group is open to first-grade students who successfully completed an audition process.
Those auditions required short vocal performances and included pitch-matching activities. A panel of judges evaluated each student. Since then, the choir has moved into regular rehearsals focused on foundational singing skills.
Rehearsals Focus on Listening and Ensemble Singing
In rehearsal, the students are learning how to blend their individual voices into a cohesive ensemble. According to Raine, the sessions emphasize listening carefully, following the director, singing together, and understanding how each singer contributes to the whole group.
That approach introduces young children to the basics of choral music while reinforcing cooperation and attention. The skills they build now—matching pitch, holding a part, and responding to a conductor—are the same foundations used by choirs at every level.
Upcoming Performances in Oxford
The choir’s public debut will come on Oct. 2, when the students sing the national anthem at an Oxford High School football game. Oxford High will face Madison Central that day.
Additional performances are planned for later in the fall. The choir will sing at a local nursing home, and on Veterans Day the students will perform at the State Veterans Home.
Those events give the first graders a chance to apply what they have learned in rehearsal while serving their community. For many, the football game will be their first time singing before a large crowd.
A New Sound in the Halls
The creation of the choir brings a new musical presence to Bramlett Elementary. With 38 students involved, the program is already one of the larger early-grade ensembles in the school. Raine’s work establishing the group reflects a broader commitment to music education that begins in the earliest grades.
As the choir continues to rehearse, the students are not only learning songs—they are learning to listen to one another, to follow a leader, and to contribute to something larger than themselves. Those lessons will carry into their performances this fall and, potentially, into a lifelong appreciation of music.
