TEACHER'S CORNER: MUSIC TEACHER LEARNS ON SPATE OF RESOURCES

JACKSON -- Immaculate Conception teacher Marsha Caughlan is teaching music by making music. Caughlan, who has taught at the school for four years, uses a variety of resources.

She teaches students of composers and educators Zoltan Kodaly and Carl Orff. The two emphasize methods such as singing, movement, musical reading, composition and listening to help students learn music techniques and principles.

"People are often surprised that there is no piano in my room," she said. "I have the children create music by using their voices, Orff instruments, recorders and other percussion instruments collected from around the world. Children can be quite creative in coming up with instruments, songs and sounds of their own."

The highlight of teaching for Caughlan is seeing the joy and excitement of making music come to life. Some activities she has her students do are composing music to tell a story, working in groups to create songs with movement and instrumental accompaniment and performing their creations for other class members.

"There is a wow feeling, goose bumps for some, that comes when everything in a performance activity fits just right," she said.

Caughlan said the other staff and parents she works with add a lot to her overall performance. Teaching in a school that places religion at the center of learning is also a bonus, she said. "Incorporating faith into the music curriculum is natural as music historically has been so important in worship and praise," she said.