Michael Blackburn, music and performing arts teacher for Bay View’s lower and upper campuses in Monterey takes us behind the scenes as he prepares his students for their annual holiday performance.
Monterey in December feels unmistakably festive. Mornings begin with fog settling over the bay, softening the shoreline, and by midday, locals and visitors stroll past decorated storefronts on Alvarado Street and Cannery Row. Holiday lights reflect off the water at dusk, and the sound of carolers drifts across places like Custom House Plaza and Del Monte Center. It’s a season made up of small, bright moments—and that spirit carries into local schools.
At Bay View Academy, the holiday atmosphere meets the green-tiled hallways and large windows overlooking the Monterey Bay. On foggy mornings, the campus can feel like a stage waiting for its curtain to rise—fitting for the time of year when students begin preparing for winter concerts and seasonal performances.
This is where Michael Blackburn, music and performing arts teacher for Bay View’s lower and upper campuses, opens his holiday rehearsal season each year. The first day is always filled with anticipation.
“There is a great deal of excitement,” Blackburn says. “Students are consistently eager to shift their focus and participate in singing holiday songs.” Many arrive humming, tapping rhythms, or wearing the kind of smile that suggests they’ve been waiting for this unit all fall.
Blackburn starts each season by asking students to help shape the playlist. “I usually start by inviting students to share their favorite holiday songs,” he explains. Once he hears their suggestions, he pairs a familiar favorite with a piece they may not know. The goal is a mix of comfort and discovery, and students often surprise him with the range of music they enjoy.
Although the songs may be well-known, rehearsing them is anything but simple. “Even though the songs are familiar, that does not mean they are easy to teach or learn,” Blackburn says. Classes spend several weeks practicing melodies, reviewing rhythms, and building confidence. By the time families gather for the final performance, all they see is joy and polish—not the hours of slow, careful work that brought the concert together.
As rehearsals progress, Blackburn sees his students change—in both skill and spirit. “There is always an added layer of joy when we sing holiday songs,” he says. The familiar tunes brighten the room. Students sing louder, move more freely, and often reveal a side of themselves that doesn’t always surface during the regular school day.
Blackburn has countless memories from past performances, but one detail is always the same: “I especially enjoy watching the little ones arrive in their fancy dresses and sweaters,” he shares. They walk in with wide eyes and determined expressions, fully aware of how special this night feels.
Inclusivity remains central to his planning. Blackburn selects a mix of holiday and seasonal pieces so students from different backgrounds feel welcome. “I try to choose a variety of songs, including pieces that aren’t tied to a specific holiday,” he says. Students also know they may sit out a song if needed. The goal is to create community, not pressure.
By the time performance night arrives, the entire school feels energized. Backstage is full of nervous laughter, last-minute whispers, and a quiet understanding that something meaningful is about to happen. “The students are thrilled to finally perform the songs they have been practicing for months,” Blackburn says. Parents feel it too, leaning forward in their seats, proud of the work they know went into the moment.
In Monterey—where fog rolls in like a gentle curtain and holiday lights stretch across the bay—these school performances become part of the season’s rhythm. Through teachers like Michael Blackburn and the students who fill his music rooms, the heart of the holidays becomes something shared, rehearsed, and celebrated together.
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