By Amy Wallot
amy.wallot@education.ky.gov
This was not the first time I have visited Auburn Elementary School. In 2013, I visited the Logan County school after it was named a National Blue Ribbon School. This time I was driving through the district and had some time to spare.
It was near the end of the school day, so I followed a few kids carrying instruments into the band room. I stumbled into 1st-year teacher Catherine Watwood’s beginning band class. But I wasn’t the only observer in her class that day. She was also being observed for her KTIP Teacher Performance Assessment. I hope I didn’t make her too nervous!
Watwood, a 2014 Western Kentucky University graduate, loves performing music and teaching others how to perform music.
“Music it is such a powerful form of expression. It is amazing being able to share that expression with students every day. I love hearing students singing songs they learned in music class after school or in the hallway,” she said.
Students at Auburn Elementary have a variety of options for music education. Students in kindergarten through 4th grade attend music class once or twice a week, with 5th-grade students attending a general music class three times a month. Fifth-grade students also can join the Beginning Band, the class I photographed. All of the elementary students can also participate in a musical performed for other students and their parents. Sixth through 8th-grade students can participate in band, a percussion class or a choir class.
“Music education is incredibly valuable and I am very fortunate to work at a school that understands its importance,” said Watwood.
![First-year teacher Catherine Watwood directs the beginning band class in Fantasy on a French Folk Song as they practice for an upcoming concert at Auburn Elementary School (Logan County). Photo by Amy Wallot, April 20, 2015](http://kyteacher.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/150420AuburnEl2306-584x402.jpg)
First-year teacher Catherine Watwood directs the beginning band class in Fantasy on a French Folk Song as they practice for an upcoming concert at Auburn Elementary School (Logan County).
Photo by Amy Wallot, April 20, 2015
![Fifth-grade student Laren Hines laughed while waiting for class to begin at Auburn Elementary School (Logan County). Photo by Amy Wallot, April 20, 2015](http://kyteacher.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/150420AuburnEl2215-584x815.jpg)
Baritone player Laren Hines laughs while waiting for class to begin.
Photo by Amy Wallot, April 20, 2015
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