Music Comes Alive at North Park Elementary: A Fall Journey with Mrs. Yates

Music Comes Alive at North Park Elementary

When Sarah Yates, North Park Elementary's amazing choir director, took on teaching our music program this fall, she brought something special to her classroom: she wasn't just an instructor, she was part of the North Park family. And for 11 eager students, that made all the difference.

Finding Their Rhythm: The First Day Magic

On September 12th, the journey began. Mrs. Yates welcomed her class of 12 students (later settling at 11), including four kindergarteners who couldn't yet read. It was a challenge that might have daunted some teachers, but not Mrs. Yates.

"There are 12 kids and about 4 of them are Kindergarteners who can't yet read," she reflected after that first session. "I tried to pair them up with a student who could help them out."

What could have been an obstacle became an opportunity for community-building. Older students naturally stepped into mentor roles, helping their younger classmates navigate the digital tools while discovering the fundamentals of rhythm together. And the kids? They were hooked from day one, getting so excited about personalizing their avatars that they "kept logging in and out to see the change."

Mrs. Yates gave that first session a 9 out of 10—an impressive start that set the tone for the entire fall.

Overcoming Challenges Together

The second week brought an unexpected hurdle that showcased Mrs. Yates' dedication and problem‑solving spirit. When the class arrived ready to explore advanced rhythm concepts, they discovered the website was suddenly blocked on the school's iPads.

"Last week it was okay, but this week the iPads opened up the site but when you went to load a game it was blocked," she explained. "Had to have the tech guy unblock it and restart stuff."

Despite starting late, the class persevered. The students still got to play Beat Decoder, and more importantly, they learned a valuable lesson about persistence. Sometimes things don't go as planned, but with the right attitude and teamwork, you can still make beautiful music together.

The Day Harmony Clicked

By late September, something magical was happening in Mrs. Yates' classroom. The students had progressed to Harmony Basics, and their enthusiasm reached new heights.

"Class went pretty well!" Mrs. Yates shared with genuine excitement. "Giving out stars was a big hit!"

But perhaps the most telling moment came when she observed how eager the students were to get to the games: "In order to unlock the games, students rushed through the progress reports that they had already done (not reading answers, quickly pressing the emoji faces) but I don't blame them!"

This observation reveals something wonderful: the kids were impatient to learn more. They had developed such love for the musical activities that the administrative tasks felt like barriers to the real fun. That's every educator's dream—students who can't wait to dive deeper into the subject matter.

Becoming Musicians: The Transformation

As fall progressed, Mrs. Yates witnessed a remarkable transformation. By late October, as the class worked on melody composition, she noted: "The kids are becoming more autonomous with the games and routine. We got through all the tasks."

She watched young learners develop confidence, independence, and genuine musical understanding. They had grown from kindergarteners who needed help reading to autonomous learners who could navigate complex musical concepts.

The following week brought more breakthroughs with Musical Form. "We played all the games! The kids really enjoyed the new games this week—it made explaining forms pretty simple," Mrs. Yates reflected, rating the session a perfect 10.

A Season's Crescendo

The final session on November 12th was everything a music teacher could hope for. Mrs. Yates gave it a perfect 10, writing simply: "We finished strong! The kids were definitely into the keychains and putting them on their backpacks."

Those keychains were symbols of achievement, tangible reminders of the musical journey these 11 students had completed together under the guidance of someone who truly understood them.

Because Mrs. Yates is part of the North Park Elementary community—not just as choir director but as a familiar face in the hallways and a trusted member of the school family—she brought an irreplaceable element to this program: she knew these kids, understood their school culture, and could adapt to their needs in real time.

This fall, 11 students learned that with patience, community support, and a teacher who believes in them, they can make something beautiful together. And isn't that what music—and education—is all about?