Children’s Music

Meredith Piplani, conductor

PURPOSE

The children’s music ensemble at First and Franklin promotes the exploration of music as a means of worship.  In addition to using rhythm instruments, the children learn sacred music and hymns as well as other non-sacred music in order to develop basic skills in vocal production and musical terminology.  The children sing four times per year during the 10:30 am service of worship and are invited to participate in singing during the annual Christmas Pageant.  Children in the group are given individual attention, are frequently encouraged to perform solo and are urged to ask questions leading to group inquiry of musical subjects. 

ABOUT OUR ASSOCIATE FOR CHILDREN’S MUSIC EDUCATION

Meredith Piplani received the Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and vocal performance from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, and in May 2006 received the Master of Music degree from The Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.  She has performed as a featured soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, Fauré’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solemnis, Haydn’s Paukenmesse and assorted cantatas of J.S. Bach.  She has performed with various churches in the Roanoke Valley and Northern Virginia, Shepherd College Choir in West Virginia, and was a featured soloist with the New River Valley Orchestra in 1999.   In 2003, Ms. Piplani won the continuing education category at the Mid-Atlantic Regional NATS competition.  Ms. Piplani has been Associate for Children’s Music Education and director of the Children’s Choir at First and Franklin since September 2005.