Music teacher Cassie McKarns helps second-grader Ava Grenier, 7, write a song during music class at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston on Thursday. Grenier was looking at examples that McKarns had written on the board.
LEWISTON — Jack Caron was on the floor in a circle Thursday, pencil in hand, writing music.
He knew what each note meant.
“I put the dots the way I want. That’s ‘mi.’ That’s ‘sol,’ said Jack, 7, a second-grader at Farwell Elementary School.
“If the notes are above the third line, (the tone) goes up,” he said. When the dots are lower, the tone goes down, he said. Pointing to a “Z” on his music lines, Jack said, “This is rest. You stop.”
Lewiston elementary students get 40 minutes of music instruction once a week.
March is “Celebrating Music in Our Schools Month,” and music teacher Cassie McKarns, who teaches at Farwell and Longley elementary schools, wants to spread awareness “that our kids love music and they’re learning and growing.”
Because March is dedicated to celebrating music in schools, her class Thursday began with music appreciation, how music affects lives.
Standing in front of her class, McKarns asked: “What would happen if we didn’t have music classes in schools? Would there be music on the radio? TV shows? Movies?”
There would be, students agreed, but not as much.
She asked the class what other subjects are part of music class.
“Is there math in music?”
“No,” second-graders answered.
“What!” McKarns said, looking surprised. Do they count beats? Does music have patterns?
Yes, students said, changing their answer.
Ditto for science, reading, writing and history, the teacher said, pointing to a picture of Beethoven, who wrote music between 1770 and 1827, “the same time we became a country. And we still have his music today.”
One part of their brain likes to do math, science and puzzles, McKarns said. The other likes to create, draw and imagine.
“When you do music, your whole brain works,” she said. “Music makes your brain smarter.”
Students were assigned to draw what music inspires them to do.
Ava drew herself singing and dancing. Sophia drew herself in a swimming pool, also singing and dancing.
The class ended with a “dance freeze” game.
The song “Uptown Funk” came on. Students did their own dance moves. When the music stopped, they had to freeze. Those who didn’t had to sit down.
The game went on until only two students remained.
Dance freeze reinforces listening skills, how to control their bodies, relating fun and music and creating, McKarns said.
While all elementary students take music, grades 4-6 pupils can elect to also take band, chorus and strings. On April 5, grades 4-6 will put on a musical, “Pirates to the Hidden Treasure,” (Farwell showtimes: 1:30 for students, 6 p.m. for adults.)
When the second-grade music class ended, students got in line, singing “The Line Song.”
To the tune of “The Addams Family,” they sang: “My hands and face are forward, my hands are by my side. My legs are standing together, and now I’m in a line.
“Show me a line.” Snap, snap.
“Show me a line.” Snap, snap.
“Show me a line, show me a line, show me a line.”
As the second-graders filed out, a class of kindergartners stood in the hall waiting for their music class.
Second-graders Khloe Marr, left, and Alyssa Mosher dance during Cassie McKarns’ music class at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston on Thursday.
Abby Freeman, center, dances with her second-grade classmates during Cassie McKarns’ music class at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston on Thursday.
Second-grader Abby Freeman, 8, draws a picture to illustrate how music inspires her during Cassie McKarns’ music class at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston on Thursday. Freeman said “music inspires me to dance.”
Sophia Jacobs, 7, dances with her second-grade classmates during Cassie McKarns’ music class at Farwell Elementary School in Lewiston on Thursday.
Mike Thompson, 8, helps decorate a poster that will go in the Farwell Elementary School hallway to celebrate “Music in Our Schools Month.”
Cassie McKarns is the music teacher for kindergarten through sixth grade at Longley and Farwell Elementary Schools.