The Musical Home

You know the look. It’s the one that usually comes from the back row and sneers, “I don’t care about music because it has nothing to do with me.” It isn’t the easiest undertaking to convince an apathetic 6th grader that Music theory really is important. It’s a bit easier, I suppose to convince them that Beethoven was a musical genius, or that music is used for it’s profound affect upon the human spirit.

This year, I had such a student–several, in fact.. I tried all year to bring about some sort of musical awakening, a new appreciation for the nitty-gritty of music-making. Then it struck me! I took piano for several years and did not enjoy it until I could truly make my own music. I wrote my own little ditty and have enjoyed music ever since. It came alive for me.

So, at the end of the year, the students put all of what they had learned to use. They wrote their own songs and were able to hear them played out. Two of the students that had before not seemed to care, began working diligently: putting much time and effort into their songs. As I played their songs, such pride showed on their faces. They had composed such beautiful songs. And they were beautiful.