Lyrical Lincoln students sing, drum to Mozart’s beat

Kristi Rushing, music teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, thinks Mozart would have been fine with the lyrics her students wrote to his song “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.”

“I think he would have loved it because he was unconventional,” she said. “I think Mozart would be up there dancing.”

Rushing’s fourth grade music students, who wrote their own lyrics and own drum beat to Mozart’s piece, performed their rendition for their fellow students on Friday.

The activity was a collaborative effort between her 60 fourth grade music students in two classes. Each class contributed something to the lyrics and to the drumbeat. Rushing said students in one class would write something, then she would present it to the other class for their input. Students in both classes voted on the wording.

John Castro, 10, said he contributed the word “basketball” to the song because it rhymed and it is a good sport.

The same process was used for the drumbeat. Holden Johnson, 11, said students used their hands to beat out the drum rhythm.

“We would just clap our hands,” Holden said. “It was kinda hard.”

Rushing then presented the drumbeats to the other class and they would add their own beats.

The only instructions she gave the classes was to make up something little kids would like to hear. The whole process took about a month, Rushing said.

Friday was the first time the two classes performed their original piece together.

Rushing said she learned years ago that if you want students to buy into music, then you have to make it fun.

“If you let them make up their own drumbeat, they are more excited about it. If you let them make up their own words, they are more excited about it,” she said. “When you get them to buy in and let them be part of something, they are more apt to pay attention. I want them to know that music is timeless. Everyone listens to music their entire lives. Mozart and Beethoven’s music is still relevant.”

Rushing will use the same technique with the third grade music class, only they will work on “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven. They will present their concert next month.