La Profesora de Música

Yesterday marked my first official day teaching music. (The reason I am not at Chacocente today is because of the ridiculous amount of rain yesterday, school was canceled today... yes, they have rain days as we have snow days!)

My day began with Pre-scholar. They are probably the easiest to teach because the extent of their defiance is not standing up when asked, or sitting down while they ought to be standing. I taught them two songs that I learned doing Children's Evangelism in Paraguay: "Adentro, Afuera, Arriba, Abajo. Soy siempre muy feliz." (Right In, Right Out, Right Up, Right Down, I'm Happy all the time...") and "Lee su Biblia, y Ora cada Día" (I don't know that this is a song in English, but it translates, "Read your Bible, and Pray each Day").

At first none of the children wanted to do anything. But once I got them moving around, they had a good time. Because the first song has a lot of movement. Reaching up and down and out... before we sang we had to prepare ourselves. So we had to do some stretching... And we reached for the sky, and then touched our toes... up and down and up and down... until they almost fell over laughing. They were a fun fun group. I am looking forward to working with them more and I really think they will be able to learn countless songs and motions with them.

Next I had 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. I decided I would actually teach them to read music. Then, whenever I buy a keyboard for the school, they will be able to learn to play it. I don't expect to have any prodigies... but learning to read music is a good skill that many people don't possess. Unfortunately, they had a lot of difficulty understanding that each line and space on the staff was a different note. I really expected more out of them than they gave, which I guess means I just have more work in front of me. Yet, I think I will able to do it.

The next three grades were more difficult.
With second grade I did not know exactly what to expect. I wanted to teach them the solfage, so they could learn the notes separately, and then later we could apply it to songs. We worked on it the whole time, and when it was over, no one could sing it alone... although Jonathan was really close and he can carry a tune very well. Although this helped me know better what to do with first grade... and that I needed to change my plans for Music Class.

The first graders are insane... mostly because I've been working with them and gotten to know them for 3 weeks already. So, they feel they can act in whatever capacity they please. With them, we worked on the solfage... "do re mi fa so la si do"... here it is not "ti" it is "si" I learned - thankfully before I went to teach them anything. I don't know that it matters at all, but that's how they do it. After learning it, and them attempting to sing it we did an exercise with it. I wrote in chalk on the floor 8 lines with one of the syllables on each line. Then I would sing one of the notes, and they had to jump to it. It loosed a lot of their energy and hopefully made some connection of how the notes don't just go in order whenever you sing. After this I taught them "Adentro, Afuera..." They had a lot of fun with it, and wanted to learn it in English, but after singng it once in English they were content with Spanish haha.

With third grade, I started with the solfage again... just to make sure and see if it was just the second grade (and a little bit the first as they had some trouble with pitch) or if it was maybe not the best way to teach these kids. It was about as successful as before. But then Gretel, who really wanted to sing, led us all in "Te amó más que mi vida" a praise song we sing in culto here quite often. Then when we finished I asked how they felt about learning to read music. Their response was greatly positive, and encouraging. The results were about the same as the 4th, 5th, 6th grade - which shows me that I have a lot of work cut out for me, but that they can do it.

I've decided that if I mix singing with learning to read the music, and even learning to write out the notes to a song they are already familiar with, they might be more responsive. Especially once I have a keyboard. With the First and Second graders I'll probably focus more on singing - like with the pre-schoolers - except I think I'll actually do musical exercises with them. I need to purchase my keyboard, I just haven't had the opportunity to go do that... and I await some songbooks that I ordered.

Yesterday I also had the pleasure of meeting three volunteers who are working with MEFEL a Christian Mission Camp in Tipitapa. They are volunteering at Chacocente for a week or two, and are doing other work with MEFEL during their 6 weeks or so in the country. Two of them are from the States, and one is actually from Nicaragua - she just really loves volunteering, and takes up the opportunity with different groups whenever she can. Andy, Ana, and Esperanza are all my age, and here for different reasons, but ultimately they too will be accomplishing God's will... some at the Project, and also at other places in the country. Please remember them in your prayers as well. They will be working with MEFEL until the end of October.

Yesterday at the end of the schoolday it rained, horribly. So, we waited until it stopped before we rode our bikes to the road. The pathway, was so muddy and slippy, it was ridiculous. But I would have rather biked it than had my shoes caked with mud. The rain started again while I was on my second to last bus. And it rained worse and worse as I got closer to my stop. When I got off the bus for my short walk home The street was ankle deep with water, and the rain was pelting. My rain jacket was not much good... I arrived home soaked through... but I felt very refreshed, rain feels nice after a hot day...

Showers of blessings were provided for my first day as Music Teacher... I am excited for what tomorrow will bring.