• Article Photo. Third grade students perform during the 'America Sings' concert.
    Third grade students perform during the 'America Sings' concert.
  • Article Photo. Playing washboards is more difficult than it looks, says Tilford music teacher Connie Zenk.
    Playing washboards is more difficult than it looks, says Tilford music teacher Connie Zenk.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo.
  • Article Photo. Yankee Doodle: Andrew Jensen, Elijah Kalous & Hunter Worthen play percussion instruments and sing.
    Yankee Doodle: Andrew Jensen, Elijah Kalous & Hunter Worthen play percussion instruments and sing.

The third grade students in Connie Zenk's class at Tilford Elementary had a big test Thursday night, said Zenk, the music teacher.

But, she said, it was not a test with paper and pencil. Instead it was a test to see how well they remembered what they had learned about singing and playing instruments (and remembering the notes and lyrics of songs).

"You passed the test," Mrs. Zenk told the students after their performance in front of friends and relatives. The theme of the concert was "America Sings." Included were a variety of folk songs from every century in American history. 

The kids sang "Yankee Doodle," "Polly Wolly Doodle," "Oh, Susanna," "I've been Working on the Railroad," "America, the Beautiful," "There Are Many Flags," "Cornstalk Fiddle," "Billy," "Shoo Fly Pie" and "This Land is Your Land."

Before each song, a student read a brief history of the song, and what it meant to those Americans who first composed and sang them. 

Mrs. Zenk praised the students for their performance and their poise, and told them they are ready to learn the more challenging lessons Mrs. Martin has for them in the fourth grade.