Good evening readers,
Today was special. Let me tell you, how I know...
Every Friday, at about 8:30 am, I get to teach a special needs general music class. Well, last year, these students really like Disney songs, and the current song is from the movie Moana. The song we began class with How Far I'll Go. The song talks about the main character's desire, no, need, to move beyond barriers and constructs set by her situation and cultural norms. If you haven't picked up why it was important for these students to sing this song, or follow along - let me tell you. These students have been given challenges, these challenges have and may continue to get in the way of their lives, but they were singing out, so very strong. It wasn't correct in pitch necessarily, but it was a raw, carefree sound. These students will go far, I am helping them more confident in motor skills and maintaining, if not improving mental function. It fills me heart with so much joy.
After that class the joys to celebrate are:
Today was special. Let me tell you, how I know...
Every Friday, at about 8:30 am, I get to teach a special needs general music class. Well, last year, these students really like Disney songs, and the current song is from the movie Moana. The song we began class with How Far I'll Go. The song talks about the main character's desire, no, need, to move beyond barriers and constructs set by her situation and cultural norms. If you haven't picked up why it was important for these students to sing this song, or follow along - let me tell you. These students have been given challenges, these challenges have and may continue to get in the way of their lives, but they were singing out, so very strong. It wasn't correct in pitch necessarily, but it was a raw, carefree sound. These students will go far, I am helping them more confident in motor skills and maintaining, if not improving mental function. It fills me heart with so much joy.
After that class the joys to celebrate are:
- roughly 30 bass voices in 8th grade choir, singing the star-spangled banner on their own parts.
- Many males that are cool with their voices being high or low, as long as they can sing
- OPUS choir audition students coming in before and after school to improve their chances at a successful audition
- Students supporting each other in their learning through small group peer interventions
- 6th grade males sight singing so well their first time, with hand signs, and correct pitches
- World Drumming is a great way to make music a really fun class. I had a student yesterday upset with me because he was messing around during class and his consequence was a lunch detention with me/my 7th grade treble choir. The student returned to class today and fully participated. I loved every minute of that class - check it out on my Twitter account @traviszinnel.
Something I want to touch on, a first for me, I am a minority in my 10th hour male/bass voice choir. It is the coolest thing in the world. For me, I was scared... why? Because, as a white male, I hope to be seen as authentically invested in my students' education. Many of these students have a societal deck, stacked against them, but not in my class. I have had so much fun getting to work with these boys so far. They have taught me, "I'm going to dance, all of the time, but I'm still singing. If I weren't moving, then I'm not engaged." More to come on that front, but I wanted to share this exciting moment.
Readers - I am working to begin the Cedar Valley's first Justice Choir Chapter. This will take place on Sunday, September 17th, 4 pm, First Baptist Church in Waterloo, Iowa. This movement, joins people from all walks of life to use singing, as a means to begin discourse about justice issues in our country and more specifically our neighborhoods. I will be reporting on this as we go, but please, check out the Justice Choir's webpage. There will be social media posts about this soon! For our e-vite, go here.
TGZ
