MU SI CL ES SO NS DeKalb teacherusing arts to help students develop

By KATIE FINLON

Brianne Borgman says she getschills hearing her students express themselves through music during her lessons at Jeffersonand Malta elementary schools.

Although Borgman’s been teaching music for 18 years, she startedher DeKalb School District 428 career this year. When she arrived in DeKalb, Borgman said she was impressed withall thesupplies at her disposal, what she called her beautiful music room and the welcomed guidance from the district’s administration.

While she prepped for the school year last fall, she said she was excited to meet her students in person. As she learnedher students’ faces and names, she initially felt overwhelmed attemptingtobuild that bond while they wore masks, she said.

So it felt even better, then, to learn their language through music.

“I got chills anytimeastudent was able to express themselves in their artwork or music,” Borgman said.“The arts are what bring us together at the root of who we are.Theymake us human and they are imperative in a child’s growth and development in life.”

Parker Weller, a9-year-old at Jefferson Elementary School, is in Borgman’s musicclass. He saidhe’s taken an interestinmusicoutside of school, as well, and also is learning how to play guitar.

“It calms me down sometimes when I’m mad and stuff,”Parker said. “I wrestle and before awrestling tournament, I’ll use music to pump me up.”

Parker said what he likes most about Borgman’s music class is that he learns “a lot of great stuff” from her.

“I get to learna couplechords on ukuleles and drums and [playing] my recorder,” Parker said.

Parker said he also recently performed in the school’s spring singing concert with Borgman.

“It was kind of nerve-wracking during some parts, but Iwas excited to be with my friends and sing,” Parker said.

When ponderingwhat it mightbe like to not have music in school, Parker saidhewouldn’t get to learn howto play instruments.

“I wouldbesad at some parts,” he said.

The arts are what bring us together at the root of who we are. They make us human and they are imperative in achild’s growth and development in life.”

Fourth grader Mason VanderBleek, also acurrentmusic studentofBorgman’s at Jefferson Elementary School, said that he would describe Borgman’s temperament as nice.

“I think it’s abreak from other stuff, like math,” Mason said. “So Idon’t have to do that. ... ’Cause sometimes it can get really boring.”

Mason said he’s looking forward to ukulele lessons in Borgman’s class soon.

“I think that it’ll be, like, different. I’m excited,” he said. “I like it because I like playing instruments.”

Borgman said it was heartening to hear Parker’s and Mason’s reasons for enjoying her music class.

“I’m glad that music class is abright spot for you,” Borgman told Parker. “I know Ienjoy teaching it to you.”

Springtimemeans her students are perking up, too, Borgman said, healthier and ready to learn.

“We are making progress as the students are starting to show much growth,” she said.“Seeing them sing, play instruments, dance, and even put on awonderful concert for their parents has been amazing. Families are able to hear music again from their students. This is incredible afteracouple of years of not being able to do that.”

Emily Weller, Parker’s mom, said this year is the family’s first year with Mrs. Borgman. She also heralded the spring concert.

“There were so many songs about peace that it truly brought tears to my eyes during some of the performances,” Emily Weller said. “Because it’s like, thisiswhat it’s all about, youknow? And it brings everybody together.”

Borgman said the students are so proud of what they’ve accomplished in class and have shown it with many thank-you notes to her.

“Now that masks are optional,I’ve been able to see many of the students’ smiles and that is incredible,”Borgman said. “Their smiles makeitall worth it.”