Music

Should I have my child in music lessons? This question is frequently asked by parents of young children, and my answer is if you are able to find time in your child’s schedule and they’ve shown interest, then yes! Music lessons are invaluable tools that teach children important life skills like patience, focus and self motivation, as well as give them the ability to play an instrument. Music lessons have also been proven to help young children learn and do better in other subjects in school. When it comes to music lessons the answer is always yes because the joy of being able to make music...Read more

You’ve heard English teachers talk about passive and active voice, but people don’t often pay the same attention to passive and active listening. As humans, we each experience passive and active listening every day, and both play important roles in our lives. People often assume that passive listening is a bad thing, but it’s not, and it occurs often. Whether you’re humming along absentmindedly to music while driving, or zoning out while smiling and nodding at an acquaintance who’s telling a long-winded tale, there will always be moments of passive listening in your day. Everyone is a...Read more

For over a decade, a special person smiled in the second row at Rossman’s annual Grandparents’ Day concert. She was not the grandparent of a student but of a teacher! How many people get to bring Grandma to school for thirty-five years?

This Friday will mark the first time my grandmother doesn’t accompany me to Grandparents’ Day at Rossman. After losing her two weeks ago at the age of 97, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on our relationship and time together. What stands out to me are not the extravagant events like family trips, graduations or weddings but small, seemingly...Read more

I remember when I had my first child, nothing went as planned. Not only was he born during Hurricane Sandy, but our magical idea of bringing him home to our cozy place for the first time after leaving the hospital was not even an option. Without power, and a northeaster looming in the forecast after the hurricane, we had no other choice but to stay with my parents for two weeks. They had power, were excited about the opportunity to provide us a place to stay, and I liked the idea of someone else cooking for us.

I remember my husband taking multiple trips to our house. His excursions...Read more

There is an ongoing effort in education to collaborate, communicate and connect across the curriculum. In the fall, after a shipment of new supplies was delivered to Mrs. Taylor, our technology coordinator, she offered the packing pieces to the SK classroom. We quickly put them to good use. What a wonderful time of constructing and creating evolved from this...Read more

Singing has been a central part of my life from as early as I can remember. I remember family vacations with long car rides that included mix-tapes so familiar and played out that I knew exactly what was next. I remember learning new songs at camp and school and wanting to share them with my siblings, singing them on the way home or when I was alone. My musical memories include being part of singing ensembles that engaged every part of my emotional being. It is partly because of these positive personal experiences that I ended up as a music teacher — my main goal to share joy of singing...Read more

The sounds of the Rossman School Holiday Program are still lingering in my ears. Last Thursday, over 200 students took to the stage at Missouri Baptist University’s Pillsbury Chapel and Dale Williams Fine Arts Center for the first time.

Weeks before, anticipation mounted as the littlest students wondered about the “red cape program” and older students worked hard in music class practicing pitch, articulation, rhythm patterns and how to look joyful. These preparations are not new, as Rossman School has presented a holiday program since 1917. However, standing on risers in a new venue...Read more

We always learn in many a way.
It happens each and every day
Through all of our lessons in Senior K.

Our five senses really come alive
As into each unit we take a dive.
At most of these turns we sing and jive.

We see, touch, taste, smell, and hear.
We always give our learning a cheer.

From art to writing, with every turn,
It seems we have another song to learn.

Through our movement and some dance,
Sitting, walking, and in every...Read more

The third, fourth, and fifth graders have turned into creative, confident composers this winter. We started our journey into the world of composition by learning to improvise short melodies on the xylophone using the C pentatonic scale. I gave the students a four measure rhythmic pattern and they experimented by playing the rhythm on various notes, making up melodic phrases on the spot. 

After sharing their improvisational skills individually, each student worked to create a new melody until they composed a song they loved enough to call their own. I was so impressed by the...Read more