“This curriculum exemplifies all of our school’s values.”
By Kristin Clark Taylor
A Song for Her School
Let’s start with a quick vocabulary test. Don’t worry—it’s only one question!
How would you define the word “crest”?
Most people would probably respond with something like, “a coat of arms,” or something similar, right?
Not if you’re a music educator in Kenosha, Wisconsin, named Taylor Bingaman-Middleton, who teaches at Frank Elementary.
In fact, Taylor’s entire school has developed its own, unique definition of the word—in the form of an acronym—which she shares with enthusiasm:
“Craftsmanship.
Respect.
Empathy.
Self-Discipline.
Trustworthiness.”
“We call it our CREST,” she explains, “because the acronym reflects all of the values we try to instill in our students every single day.”
Bingaman-Middleton says that when the school turned to her to write the school song that celebrates the principles of CREST, she, in turn, turned to Quaver for inspiration.
“I decided to write our school song to the tune of You-Nique, not just because the kids are obsessed with the song, but because the lyrics embody every single value within our school CREST.”
Frank Elementary’s ‘CREST,’ she says, “helps emphasize the common expectations we have for one another, and we sing the song all the time,” says the Wisconsin educator. “Since we’re singing it to the tune of You-Nique, the kids already feel this deep connection … and they can really relate.”
“The curriculum not only engages and motivates,” she says, “but it exemplifies all of our school’s values.”
And her students sing about it every single day.
A Class of its Own
The Wisconsin educator has been teaching for eleven years—and this is her eleventh year using Quaver in her classroom.
The longevity of her relationship with Quaver gives her a sense of comfort and confidence.
“I’ve never not used Quaver!” she exclaims. “It’s been a part of my teaching career since day one.”
Her students, she says, are equally enamored.
“They come into the classroom asking, ‘Is it Quaver day today? When can we meet Quaver?’”
“The enthusiasm is always there,” she observes.
“I’ve seen other curricula and resources, but none of them provide the same level of engagement and excitement,” she says. “Quaver is in a class of its own.”
Bingaman-Middleton is also highly trained in Kodály and Conversational Solfège, and is certified in First Step of Music, a renowned research-based curriculum that develops young children’s musical aptitude, specifically for kindergarten and 1st grade.
“Kodály and solfège, for instance, are highly structured,” she says, “so I love the fact that Quaver gives me the freedom and flexibility to experiment with different things at different times as necessary.”
“Quaver is designed to play to a teacher’s strengths, whatever those strengths happen to be.”
“Wow! You’re FAMOUS!”
Taylor Bingaman-Middleton is proud to bring Quaver to life in her classroom every single day, in unique and exciting ways.
“I have a giant Quaver poster in my classroom,” she exclaims with a smile in her voice, “so my kids are always high-fiving him when they come in and when they leave!”
She’s visited Quaver’s Nashville headquarters several times and has even appeared in a couple of the company’s videos.
“During one visit,” Bingaman-Middleton recalls, “they asked me to appear in their ‘You’re the GOAT’ video, which was set up like Hollywood squares,” she remembers.
When her students actually saw the video, she says that chaos ensued.
“When my kids saw me in that video—in the center square, no less!—they lost their ever-loving minds!”
“They started clapping and yelling, ‘You’re the center square! You’re YouTube famous!’”
But fame, as we all know, can be fleeting.
What is more enduring is the Wisconsin educator’s belief that QuaverMusic is making a difference in her classroom every single day, and her enthusiasm for the curriculum is boundless.
“I wear a Quaver t-shirt to work every single day,” she says, “and I have the Pumpkin Bones stuffed animals from the Quaver shop spread all around my classroom!”
“My kids call me a QuaverNerd,” she happily admits, “and you know what?”
“I’m proud to be one!”
Let’s end with another quick vocabulary lesson.
What’s the best resource for elementary music teachers available anywhere?
If you answered “QuaverMusic,” guess what?
You are absolutely right!
Want to bring QuaverMusic to your school? Go to QuaverEd.com/Music to find out how!
Kristin Clark Taylor is an author and a journalist.
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