Page 24 - Senior Link Magazine Summer 2018- Online Magazine

HONORING SENIORS

The Po wer of Music

The Touch of

a Teacher

OAKE revolves around the revolutionary musical teaching style
of Zoltan Kodaly, a brilliant Hungarian composer. When I first
auditioned with Ms. Fleming in fourth grade, I didn’t know what
to expect. To audition, I had to sing “America the Beautiful”,
s. Fleming’s music as well as some scales and vocal exercises. Ms. Fleming was
BY CAROLINE WILKERSON Mclassroom was a imminently patient with me. She stayed late after school so that
fairyland full of pentatonic we could get just the right recording, and when we both decided
scales, enchanting stuffed animals, and sweet marshmallow that we had a winner, off it went in the mail. I was delighted to
oatmeal pies, which always preluded choir practice. Ms. Fleming hear that OAKE had accepted me
left me starry-eyed as she taught our class the fine details of into their children’s choir and that
mysterious solfege syllables and rhythm names. Better yet, her my picture would appear on the
tuning fork mesmerized us as she pulled pristine pitches right out coveted OAKE singers board. I
of the air. Ms. Fleming made music magical. From gleeful winks got my music in the mail, and Ms.
to music games, where singing and laughter intermingled in pure Fleming spent time burning CDs,
harmony, I cherish memories of her music class. Ms. Fleming holding after school rehearsals, and
encouraged my desire to make music in a multitude of ways. She teaching our uncultured tongues
let me give my first proper piano recital in the second grade, the proper pronunciation of lyrics
when I played “101 Dalmatians” for my class. She always led me in Latin, Spanish, and Swahili.
to believe that my innate love of music was a gift that I should OAKE truly struck a chord with me
develop. She equipped me with many opportunities that edified because I kept coming back every
my musical abilities. I am surely indebted to her. Ms. Fleming year from 4th grade on.
persuaded me to join choral groups like West Texas Children’s Over the years, I’ve traveled all
Choir and OAKE (Organization of American Kodaly Educators).
around the USA to be in OAKE choirs. From Minneapolis and
OAKE is a national choir that meets in a different part of the Phoenix, to Hartford and Long Beach, Ms. Fleming, my mother
United States each year for a week of intensive singing in March. and I have swiftly navigated new cities and formed some of the
sweetest memories I possess. In Atlanta, we tasted the best fried
green tomatoes I’ve ever had and visited some verdant botanical
gardens. In Philadelphia, we got to see the Liberty Bell, and Ms.
Fleming and my mom climbed the stairs that Rocky Balboa climbs
in his namesake movie. OAKE has afforded me some marvelous
experiences, and I’m incredibly glad that I got to share many of
them with Ms. Fleming, who supports her students every step of
the way.

OAKE exposed me to a multitude of rich music that became the
definitive soundtrack for my formative years. From Hungarian
folk songs, to motets and spirituals, every pitch I have sung
in OAKE stays in my heart. Once, I wrote down every lyric I
could recall from my experiences in OAKE. The dear moments

24 Lubbock Senior Link