On Thursday, October 23, Fairhope High Schools guitar classes performed their fall showcase featuring songs by The Beatles. The performance included a light show, performers and a backdrop slideshow of the history and background information for each song. 

Guitar teacher Michael Griffith highlights the importance of music’s historical knowledge and uncovered the backstory of each song throughout the showcase and during the students practice. 

 “I think for me as a teacher with a background in history and music the opportunity to combine the two seemed like a great way for students to perform a concert that not only put on a show but included a history lesson about The Beatles as well for my students and the audience to learn more about,” Griffith said. 

The sets were divided into two parts and featured a pre-show along with a pre-finale to introduce songs outside the main performance. The main performance included songs from the album “Rubber Soul” and featured songs such as “In My Life,” “Nowhere Man,” “Michelle,” and “Drive My Car.”

The show introduced students to not just a popular 60’s band but a band that helped shape music in songwriting, artwork and marketing. Griffith expresses his inspiration in covering The Beatles came from his childhood when his dad introduced him to the music and hysteria of Beetlemania. 

“We were given the concert theme about a month or so before the performance and practiced learning each song assigned to us along with the history of The Beatles,” said Daxton Adams, sophomore bass player. 

The production lasted through the fourth and fifth periods and allowed each student to play a part in the performance. Many classes watched the show and some had assignments such as critiquing each performance to help students engage and participate more as an audience.

“The students were assigned the same task which was to contribute in any way to the show. Every kid in one way or another, not only learned their parts when they were supposed to by my direction but many of them did things you didn’t see in order to get the Blackbox prepared for the show,” Griffith said. 

The show also featured popular Beatles songs from the album “Help” such as “Ticket to Ride,” “I’ve Just Seen A Face,” “Help!” and “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.” Lead vocalists Lyric Hall, Eve McKeever, Annabelle Watford and Marley Jones switched out between sets and sang through every song as a lead or background vocalist. 

“Learning the songs vocally was a lot of listening to each song over and over again to understand exactly how the songs go,” McKeever said. “As a vocalist group we practiced by playing together and rehearsing the music over and over while making changes and tweaks throughout the way.”  

The showcase was a commitment and students came together through performances on and off the stage to put on the show. This student-led experience allowed teachers and peers to see the progress and dedication the guitar classes have demanded this year and the impact it has had on Fairhope High School’s music program.