Yesterday, as I was packing up the precious, precious Orff instruments that bring me such joy and make unparalleled beauty in the hands of my students, I had the full on ugly cry. I was about 75% of the way done with packing instruments into the closet to prepare for Jennifer Patterson, our new music teacher, when I. just. lost. it.
I grabbed my water and a granola bar and headed to the art teacher's room, because I needed some clean air. Some space where every corner where I looked wasn't a memory or a thing to pack or a decision to make. Clearly, leaving the music room for the foreseeable future isn't a decision that I take lightly--I absolutely adore my students and love that I've been called to serve them as their first step into music. So, with this being my last "here's what's happening in my classroom" blog post as a music teacher, I leave a letter to Jennifer, our next resident of Music Room A and Music Room B.
Dear Jennifer,
You are about to inherit the most beautiful children I've ever laid eyes on. You already know this, because your two children attend our school. Our Wranglers have the most amazing spirits and hearts--you'll be hard pressed to ever find a school where the students love and support anyone with differences like how our Wranglers love and support those who are different.
I've served the Wranglers for five wonderful years and have done my very best to leave you with musicians who can move through a space using a variety of levels and direction. Who know the difference between a note in a space and on a line. Who can sight read Do, Re, Mi, So, and La with hand signs that we've spent YEARS cultivating and practicing. Who know how to fearlessly approach a barred instrument and develop a pentatonic improvisation while also being able to build on their skills of a drone, a shifting drone, and a crossover drone. You are getting some incredibly skilled musicians, but what I want you to know most is that you're getting students who love how they spend time in our room.
We've spent years exploring storybooks together and they know the magic an author can bring into our worlds.
They know all about the time that my dog died, because they asked why they stopped hearing stories about Gabriel. And when I told them the truth, they were sad right along with me and then we sang a song and healed together.
There are students who you will now get to love who had never ever been able to perform in a program until they came to our school and were involved in this music program. They're successful because of the environment we've created in the music room and because of the amazing support program that brings them to our school. Parents sit in the audience year after year with faces soaked with tears as they watch their children look and be like every other student.
Many of the parents in our special programs have never seen their children look like every other student before. Ever. Years of parents knowing that when their children play on the playground, they look and interact in different ways. Different from their peers. But not on program night; no, on program night in our world, every child gets a chance to be just like everyone else.
You were there at one of the programs this year--you might not have seen it because you were on the other side of the gym. And you didn't even notice the students who were just like everyone else--because they were just like everyone else. But you shared the same space and breathed the same molecules as those parents who were silently sobbing. It's such an outpouring of beauty and love that their teachers and I always have to look away, because it's like we're watching the most private of parenting moments unfold much like when a butterfly opens its wings for the first time. And it happens every year, in almost every program.
They love being listened to. They love telling you stories. They love having you take time to look them in the eyes.
They also love to be the student reporter on Twitter.
Listen to their voices. Let them be the leaders. Allow them to develop in ways you haven't even thought of...because they're REALLY good at that.
And lastly, don't love them like I do; if it's possible, love them more than I do. Love them deeper than I do. Love them more completely than I do.
I'm incredibly grateful that you're the one who is coming. I can't imagine a better person to leave my students with than you--I know you'll do amazing things and grow in ways neither one of you have thought of yet. And I can't wait to watch what you do and be your biggest fan!!
Love,
Virginia
#JWEmusic
#jwepride