Celebrating the magic of music … and the power of patriotism
By Kristin Clark Taylor
The flag flies high in the White House.
Just ask Tanya Hurst, a music teacher in White House, Texas.
Hurst uses Quaver not just to teach music and customize her lesson plans but to celebrate the spirit of patriotism as well.
“I’m always in Resource Manager to help me plan songs and activities,” she says happily, “and I can always find songs to help us celebrate holidays and special days of the year.”
“I use the scope and sequence that Quaver provides to help guide the order that I teach the music elements to each grade level,” Hurst says.
“And because I like to teach along with the seasons, I use Resource Manager and all of its sub-categories to help me plan songs and activities around each season and all the special days of the year.”
Hurst identifies one holiday in particular that always gets a lot of attention in her classroom:
Veterans Day.
“Our school’s Veterans Day program is incredibly important, and I rely on Quaver to help us bring this special day to life,” she says proudly.
But Hurst believes that the bright flame of patriotism should shine far longer than just a single day.
Hurst says she pulls from Quaver’s plentiful collection regularly, “because it is the right thing to do.”
“My kids love all of Quaver’s patriotic songs — “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and “Yankee Doodle” really get us going!”
QuaverMusic’s “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Hurst, who’s been an educator for almost thirty years and is coming to the end of her teaching career, loves talking about legacy.
“I’ve always said that the legacy I want to leave with my students is a sense of patriotism and pride, and I want to thank QuaverMusic for including the songs of our country in the curriculum,” she says with quiet pride.
Hurst continues, her voice welling with emotion.
“I pray that the legacy I leave behind as a music teacher is that I have instilled some level of patriotism in my students.”
She pauses here, takes a cleansing breath.
“I believe that American schools are where we should be teaching these beloved songs.”
Gratitude flows freely in her voice, not just for her country but for Quaver as well.
“By combining beautiful graphics, meaningful lyrics, and the joy of movement all together, Quaver deepens the learning experience and strengthens our sense of connection to country—both at the same time.”
Celebrating the Software and the Sustainability
There are many other features about Quaver that make Hurst happy.
“I think my favorite thing about Quaver is how the software itself allows me to create a very impressive visual to go along with every lesson I teach,” she reflects.
“QuaverMusic makes putting it altogether so incredibly easy!”
According to Hurst, it is the design and software that elevate Quaver to its All-Star status in the Lone Star State.
“Nobody else is doing anything like this—not at this level,” Hurst says proudly.
Again, her focus returns to the innovative design and software as the elements that greatly influence the way she is able to teach—and the way her students are able to learn.
“Bringing Quaver into my classroom in 2018 did so much for my classroom … and for my life!”
The depth of her gratitude runs as wide as the prairie.
“Quaver has helped me become a music teacher,” she says with conviction.
There’s something else she’s grateful for, too: Quaver’s sustainability and staying power.
She is confident that the curriculum will endure long after she bids farewell to her school family at Cain Elementary.
Her students wouldn’t have it any other way.
“The songs and lessons are a part of their daily experience, and every grade level has favorite songs that are really meaningful to them,” she reflects.
She quickly ticks off a list of favorites, including “Happy,” “Walk Like a Mummy,” and “Ukelele Shake.”
She adds another favorite to her list:
“My students love Quaver’s rendition of ‘A Wonderful World,’” she says.
How fitting, given that Quaver’s wonderful world of music has helped make her teaching journey so rewarding.
Want to get QuaverMusic in your classroom? Visit QuaverEd.com/Music!
Kristin Clark Taylor is an author and a journalist.
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