Music Class

I want to relay a really amazing experience I had on Monday. Every Monday, I teach a 5th grade music class at the primary school in Mespo. We started with the really basic stuff (note names, staff, clefs) and have since moved on to the more interesting stuff, like actually playing the recorder. On Monday, we finished learning the notes and fingerings for the C-major scale, so at the end of class, all the students with recorders (about 15 in a class of 41) practiced playing the scale together. All through the class, I was worried that the students without recorders (the majority) weren't really getting anything out of the class. The school can't provide recorders for the students and many of the parents can't afford the extra expense, so I was concerned that the students without instruments felt left out of the class. I shouldn't have been. At the end of class as the students with recorders played their 7 new notes, the rest of the students added a magnificent percussion ensemble! They played on the desks, chairs, cabinets - anything and everything - and it sounded so great with the C-major "melody" from the recorders. It made my week to see the students really enjoying music class, especially in such a creative, out-of-the-box way!
I enjoy working with this class so much that I've decided to start a music club with the students that meets after school. We would practice together, then play "gigs" in the community (by "gigs" I mean at church or school). I think that it will be something really enjoyable for the kids and it's a great way to get them more actively involved in music (my secret plan!). We have our interest meeting tomorrow afternoon, so I will let you know more about how that goes. I have high hopes, since 8 students asked if they could join already!