Our K-8 elementary school is currently conducting all virtual classes due to COVID-19. Although we have never had a school year that looks quite like this, one thing that has remained the same is our teacher’s commitment to our scholars. In this series, we’ll highlight our teachers and staff and the ways they’ve adapted to continue educating and supporting scholars through this unprecedented time.
How long have you been with Christopher House?
Four years.
Can you explain your role? What classes do you teach?
I teach the Music Technology elective for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. I also teach a general music class for K-5th graders. A group of middle schoolers formed a little band last week, and they all want to play music together and learn more, so I’m also helping them out.
How has COVID-19 impacted your work?
It’s changed a lot because so much of what we did before was playing instruments. We’re not able to play instruments together now; we are limited to singing and a lot of digital work. We’re reviewing songs we learned last year, we know dozens of songs together. For all those songs, I make lyric videos and post them on Youtube, and they can review all the lyrics. I’ve posted at least 25 songs that they know or are learning with lyrics.
I see my K-5th grade scholars twice a week for a half-hour of live sessions. I also give them a half-hour of work to do on their own once we log off the live meeting. During the live classes, I go over our composition projects and we sing together. But singing is pretty weird with the time delay on the videos!
In what ways have you innovated to stay connected to scholars in a virtual environment?
There are so many programs the kids work with online, from music games to music composition software.
The youngest ones use Chrome Music Lab, which explores different music ideas like sound recording and different types of instruments. One of the features of Chrome Music Lab is the Song Maker, an online composition maker that allows students to save and share their work. They compose things and post their work on my Google Classroom. I can hear it and provide feedback, and they can also listen to each other and give each other feedback.
The older kids are currently learning Bandlab, which is perfect for older kids. It’s really sophisticated and almost identical to what professional musicians use to create and edit sounds. They’ve been introduced before, but now we’re spending more time on it. They can make professional-sounding songs on this program. The middle school just started their first soundtrack project, where they’re making music for videos. I put together a two-minute sci-fi video and the kids are making the soundtrack for that.
What are you most looking forward to after the pandemic is over?
Seeing the kids! They miss each other, and we all miss playing music in the same room. We do our best virtually, but it’s obviously not the same.
I also miss having casual conversation with the kids. They like to log on early and just talk to each other; they’re really missing their friends.
Why is art education so important during a global pandemic/time of unrest?
I try to make our music class a relaxing and joyous time together. Without the pressure of having to perform for school, the students are just having fun and being creative and making music, and I find it’s genuinely comforting for them during this difficult time.
