Finding Their Voice: How Music Brought Joy to Students at NSCD This Fall

Finding Their Voice: How Music Brought Joy to Students at NSCD This Fall

When Chelsi Miller walked into her first class at NSCD this September, she had no idea what to expect. What she discovered over the next two months was something extraordinary: a small but mighty group of students who would dance to their own compositions, become "serious pros" at music games, and find pure joy in creating something uniquely theirs.

This fall session brought together a dedicated group of young musicians, ranging from first graders still learning to focus to older students who could breeze through advanced activities. Through it all, Chelsi's patience, creativity, and genuine care for each student created a space where everyone could find their musical voice.

The Magic of That First Day

September 2nd marked the beginning of something special. With 10 students gathered for their first session, Chelsi didn't rush straight into curriculum. Instead, she did something beautifully simple: she took time to build community.

"It was the first session with this group, so we started the first half of class getting to know each other and talking about our favorite music," Chelsi reflected. "We also walked through the Overture Games site and the Muses."

Then came the moment that hooked them: "We played some favorite songs by KPop Demon Hunters and practiced matching our rhythm to the songs. Students then transitioned to typing in their favorite musicians and discovered the joys of the coins!"

That discovery—that they could explore their favorite music, not just what was assigned—lit a spark. Chelsi understood something crucial: when students see themselves reflected in their learning, everything changes. She rated that first day a perfect 10, and you could feel her excitement in every word.

The Day Music Made Them Dance

By early October, the students had progressed to exploring instrument families, and something magical happened that every music teacher dreams of witnessing.

"Students were able to make their own song afterwards, which was fun!" Chelsi wrote. "Two students loved that and danced to their creations."

Picture that scene: young students so proud of the music they had composed that they couldn't help but move to it. They weren't dancing to a pop song or a professional recording—they were dancing to their own compositions, played on the big speaker throughout the session for everyone to hear.

"We then moved into Piano Clicker (love the updates!) and tried out Overture Music Lab. Students made many compositions and I played them on the big speaker throughout the session," Chelsi explained.

This was the moment when these students transformed from consumers of music into creators of it. They were becoming musicians.

When Smaller Became Bigger

Not every day went according to plan, and that's where Chelsi's teaching skills truly shined. On September 16th, various school events meant she had just three students in class—including two energetic first graders who were, admittedly, a bit distractible.

"Many things were going on at the school (sibling photo day) and one student had to leave early, so it was just 3 students," Chelsi noted.

The younger boys were particularly focused on Key Smashers, making it challenging to keep them engaged with the full lesson plan. But instead of fighting it, Chelsi adapted.

"We started with playing Harmony Guessers together (to try and wrangle the two younger boys attention). I played alongside the third student as we did the games which was fun."

In that moment of flexibility, Chelsi turned a potentially frustrating day into an opportunity for one-on-one connection. The quiet student got focused attention. The younger boys got to pursue their passion for Piano Key Smashers. And everyone learned that sometimes the best teaching happens when we meet students where they are.

There was even a funny moment: "I thought they were serious pros until one of them pointed out it 'tells you the answer'," Chelsi laughed, having discovered a game bug through her students' keen observation.

What They Learned

This fall at NSCD, a small group of students discovered something powerful: they are musicians. Not someday, not when they're older, not if they practice enough—right now. They composed songs that made them want to dance. They became "serious pros" at musical games. They learned that their favorite music and musicians have a place in their education.

And through Chelsi Miller's patient guidance, creativity in the face of challenges, and unwavering belief in each student's potential, they learned perhaps the most important lesson of all: music isn't just something you listen to. It's something you create, something you feel, something that's yours.

That's a lesson that will stay with them long after the fall session ends.