Music teacher adapts to new learning opportunities

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic closed some doors for education, but has opened some new windows for educators.

Donley Niskanen teaches general music for kindergarten through fourth grade at Medford Area Elementary School (MAES) and Stetsonville Elementary School. He has been with Medford Area Public School District for three years and has 36 years of teaching experience. He lives in Athens.

“Teaching through Desert Storm, through the September 11 attacks and aftermath, having parents who were children of the Depression and were in World War II — this is something I never would have been prepared for mentally or emotionally as a parent or a teacher. But it has been something we as the Medford staff have had wonderful leadership and teamwork throughout,” Niskanen said.

As an elementary school level music teacher, the transition to non-traditional and online learning with the school closures was especially challenging for Niskanen.

“I miss the face-to-face learning,” he said. “When you are teaching music, you really want to hear kids’ feedback immediately,” he explained. He said strategies such as having students make instruments from what they have around the home or to play rhythms can only go so far. He said what is lost is the ability to sing and play as a group. “The live group dynamic is missing through the screen and the microphone,” he said, noting that with that avenue closed work arounds were needed.

He said as the Safer at Home order forced educators to think out of the box and they began working from home, there were a lot of different aspects to think about.

“One in particular that affected the music field was copyright. When we started thinking about live streams and playing songs or reading and teaching over YouTube and platforms like it; this became a topic of intense discussion,” he said.

“Our librarian at MAES, JoAnn Hudak has been simply amazing when it comes to informing the staff of material that is available,” Niskanen said.

Niskanen said he knew immediately what he would like to share with certain grade levels and what books of songs and songs that were also stories he had available at his home.

This led him to reach out to artists via email and social media.

This has led to interesting connections and glimpses into what is going on in places like New York City and Vancouver which have been harder-hit by COVID-19.

He said the artists he has contacted have been very supportive of their efforts and know that teachers are continuing to try to make a difference in children’s lives.

Two main musician contacts Niskanen has made include Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary fame) who he contacted regarding the children’s song and book “Puff, the Magic Dragon;” and Raffi Cavoukian writer of hits for kids like ‘Baby Beluga’ and ‘Banana Phone.’ “I have several of his “songs to read” series that my children enjoyed while they were in early elementary,” Niskanen said. “It has been a joy and a pleasure to reach out to and to be contacted in turn by these giants in their field, for the sake of children who are denied a normal spring of school.”

“I never would have imagined years ago that I would have been emailing back and forth with Peter Yarrow, or that he would be starting his messages with “Donely, my friend,” Niskanen said.

The experience has led Niskanen to think more out of the box in regard to how he teaches his classes and has led to ideas for expanded learning opportunities through the school year and in the summer months.

He is exploring ways that through technology students can perform together even while they are apart, something he said that could carry over when things once again return to normal.

“If people are patient and work together hard enough there are amazing stories that will come out of this,” Niskanen said, noting the advice his mother gave him when he called to checked in on her recently about how when everyone comes out of this, it will be with strengthened resolve and stronger bonds.

Like other teachers and their students, Niskanen looks forward to a time they can return to the classroom and a more normal educational experience.

“It gives a new appreciation,” he said, praising the district’s administration and staff for their dedication and hard work.