Yesterday a student in GGC asked on his own volition how Beethoven could write music if he couldn’t hear. I don’t know what prompted him to ask because we were actually trying to sing a scale and it was 1000% random. I love random. He asked in such a sincere way, I just had to pivot. I taught them the “five dollar word” audiate (meaning the ability to think music) and asked them if they could think the next part of the songI was about to play on the piano. I had them group pinky promise that they wouldn’t make a sound. I then played the sample of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not like us”on the piano. Since the timbre was different than what they were used to, it took a second but I saw their eyes and smiles widen. I asked them if they could hear the song in the head. Lots of enthusiastic nods because they were frightened to make sound since a pinky promise was made. Kendrick Lamar’s music helped students learn about audiation. I’m almost positive that sentence has never been spoken before.

Today two students from GGC took leadership roles and attended the Lawson Choir Council, a student run board that helps mold the choir program. Tomorrow I am going to see if they want to sing the Alma Mater at the pep rally.