Whistling Wonderland

Impact to My Classroom

# of Students Impacted: 100

     I can not begin to tell you how wonderful it was to have all one hundred of my fourth grade students having their own instruments on which to learn music.  I tried to capture some of the smiles in the pictures below because you can truly see the excitement and joy on their faces.  These recorders were an amazing gift for them!  Words alone can't properly thank you for this total learning experience.

     The Leader in Me initiative set the ground rules in my classroom for working together with the common goal of learning to play an instrument.  Having these guidelines in place maintained the environment required for this type of cooperative learning.  It was wonderful to have a platform to put these seven initiatives into real, and practical, use. 

     Learning to play the recorder taught my students many important lessons - not just about music - but also about skills needed for success in life.  Yes - we focussed on many of the fundamentals of music.  Notes, rhythm, melody, literacy, the staff, counting, playing in an ensemble, embouchure and posture, counting, fingering, and how to care for an instrument, were all worked through, developed, and practiced.  The students were amazed at how little "air" it took to make a sound.  They found it to be an eye opening experience that you did not just "wiggle" your fingers on the recorder, and magically, a song would be produced and heard. 

     This was the most effective lesson this project taught - grit.  The concept of time, effort, practice, and patience - of making improvements little by little - and perseverence and not giving up - was invaluable.  In this day of "instant gratification," this lesson of grit was truly impactful.  Most students found this idea, and the necessity of grit, to be a most difficult challenge.  It took alot of patience, and encouragment, to get the children to continue and maintain their efforts, and not to give up and quit - but - the students did persevere!  The sense of pride and accomplishment that these students felt when they met this challenge with success, and were able to play real songs - to make real music together - was nothing short of inspirational!  Thank you for providing the means for this imperative learning achievement!

     Sadly, we were not able to celebrate reaching our learning goals this year by playing in the Link-Up Program along with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra.  This would have been a wonderful culminating experience for these children, however, the lack of this one performance does not at all diminish all that was achieved, and learned.  I am so proud of these students, and of their tremendous efforts and accomplishments!