A state-of-the-art music program is in full swing at Coosa Elementary with the spotlight on new music teacher, Mrs. Anna Wheeler.
Mrs. Anna Wheeler, a recent graduate of Charleston Southern University, is the new music teacher at Coosa Elementary School. Mrs. Wheeler brings an innovative, state-of-the-art program to the school, which includes three specialty music groups: Coosa Chorale, Coosa Consort, and Bobcat Orff Corps. These groups will debut at Coosa’s Harvest Hoe Down on October 11 at 5:30 p.m.
Coosa Chorale is a mixed choral group of 30 students from grades 2-4, who will learn a wide variety of literature in English, Latin, French, German, and Spanish and become proficient in grade-level solfège. They meet every Monday and Wednesday from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m.
Coosa Consort is a mixed recorder group of 25 fourth grade students. They meet each Thursday from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m.
The Bobcat Orff Corps is a mixed instrumental group of 26 students from Coosa’s 2nd and 3rd grades, who will explore music fundamentals through Orff pedagogy. These students will play glockenspiel, xylophone, metallophone, temple blocks, resonator bells, and other instruments. They meet Tuesdays and Fridays of each week from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m.
Students were required to fill out applications in order to be considered for each group. Teachers received a large number of interested applicants. The suspension of Coosa’s music program in the 2012-2013 school year (due to budget cuts), has contributed to a high demand for extra music activities.
Faculty, students and parents are excited for the return of the music program to the school. Mrs. Wheeler said, “I feel that music and its universal appeal is the ideal teaching medium to introduce both academic subjects and life skills, and I thank God daily that I am able to share music in the elementary classroom. I hope to supplement classroom teachers and the support networks of each child that enters my classroom, further developing a life-long love for learning and music.”
