Tharptown music program excites elementary children
Tharptown Elementary School is decking the halls and bringing some fa-la-la to the school day for the rest of the semester now that the school’s new music program is in place.
Tara Greenhill started her new job teaching the art of singing to Tharptown’s Pre-K through sixth-graders at the end of September.
“Right now, our focus is the Christmas program I have planned for December,” Greenhill said.
Each class, Greenhill said, will sing two songs ranging in difficulty level depending on their grade. Pre-K and kindergarten children are combined. Greenhill said she hopes to have small instruments like bells and triangles for the younger grades. For the fifth- and sixth-graders, Greenhill said she has tried to pick Christmas pop songs that these students will perhaps enjoy more than the traditional classics.
“If you like what you’re singing, you’re more likely to enjoy it and work on it more,” she said.
One student told Greenhill she spent all night practicing what Greenhill has been teaching them. That excitement seems to be shared throughout all of the classes.
“I’ve even had students tell me they wish I could come to their class every day,” Greenhill said.
As of right now, she said she doesn’t have an official classroom, so she has a cart with her supplies on it that she rolls to each class. Because of the large number of classes, she is only able to visit each classroom once a week, but she said it helps when the students keep practicing on their own.
Greenhill, a Russellville High School graduate, went to NW-SCC and sang in their Chorale before attending Belmont University in Nashville, where she earned a degree in music business. For the past six years, she said she has been giving private lessons in Russellville and at her home in Muscle Shoals.
“This is my first time teaching in a classroom setting, but I love it,” she said.
Principal Kelby Daniel said he is happy to finally have this program at Tharptown because he knows the children and community have been wanting it.
“She loves the kids, and she’s doing a great job,” Daniel said.
