By Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor
Kelly Krohn recalls the day about two months ago when she responded to one of her Thurston students who had been struggling with at-home learning.
Her own daughter, Libby, 3, had also just talked about how much she missed her friends.
So she got out her guitar and, with a little help from Libby, wrote a song about togetherness. She later uploaded it to Youtube, and sent the link to her students.
“Writing this song came during a time when the reality and magnitude of all of this were just starting to sink in, and it was a much-needed outlet for all of the grief, anxiety, energy, and hope that was jumbled inside of me,” says Krohn, who has taught ASD, preschool, Young 5s, kindergarten and first grade music at Thurston for the past two years, and was the music teacher at Bryant for six years before that. “I know that we are all struggling with this in our own ways and that the uncertainty of what next school year will bring can be so uncomfortable to sit with.”
Why did she choose the theme of togetherness?
“I think one of the most difficult things for many people, especially children, during this time is that it is in direct conflict with our very human nature to be social and connect with others,” she says. “We are not meant to function in isolation, and children especially need their village to thrive.”
She says that while writing this song, she wanted to assure her own children as well as all children that there are indeed people out there who are thinking about them and working to help them even if they can’t be with those people physically.
“I was reminded of the Fred Rogers quote to look for the helpers, and was inspired by the AAPS village that first came together in March when this all began, along with the dedicated health care and essential workers that have continued to work selflessly in service of others,” she says. “Along with providing reassurance, I also wanted this song to validate any of the challenging feelings my students may be dealing with as well. I wanted them to know that it is OK to be sad, and while this time may not be easy for everyone, they won’t feel like this forever. We will continue to work for them, with their best interest and safety at heart, and will get to make music together again.”
“I wanted them to know that it is OK to be sad, and while this time may not be easy for everyone, they won’t feel like this forever. We will continue to work for them, with their best interest and safety at heart and will get to make music together again.”
Krohn says the reaction from parents has been positive, with many describing it as beautiful and uplifting. One student sent her a picture that said, `We love you’ and another sent a video talking about how he liked the song.
Her students couldn’t have been surprised to receive such a music video from their teacher. Because she finds the guitar to be one of her greatest teaching tools, Krohn played guitar for them every day at school.
“With the guitar, I am free to move around the room and am able to interact and engage with my students in a new way,” she says. “While our daily music classes involve a sequence of instruction in singing, chanting, moving, and analyzing with and without instruments, I try to find a moment in each class where we can just jam together.”
These sing-along-style moments are some of her most special memories with her students and are what she misses most about not being with them in person.
Since mid-March, she and her husband, Tim, a Huron High School orchestra teacher, have tried to recreate those moments through video recordings of family jam sessions, which she shared with her students.
“Music is another form of communication for me, and I often find myself coming up with songs as a way to connect with others,” says Krohn, who has also written lullabies for her own children and a song for a family member whose daughter was dealing with a serious childhood illness. “In our household, we are always singing and making up silly songs and melodies together.”
Back in 2012 during her first year at Bryant, Krohn wrote a song for the school after learning that there was no official school song. Three years later, she and her students made a music video of it.
“I believe in the power of music to build community and wanted to write a song that the Bryant community could share,” she says. “It was so special to have all of the students sing the song at each assembly and hear that whole families were singing it together at home.”
Together
Copyright: Kelly and Libby Krohn, 2020
VERSE 1:
Listen my friends I want to tell you a story
Of a time when we all come together as one
So many workers, teachers, doctors and scientists
Helping each other to get the job done
We know it’s hard when you miss your friends
And it can feel like this time will never end
But know that we’re thinking of you
You’re in our hearts in all that we do, because
CHORUS:
We’re all in this together, my friends
We can all lend a helping hand
Everybody’s doing what they can to help
You—————
To get through————
VERSE 2:
All the helpers around me are everyday heroes
But they don’t need a cape to show they’re super strong
Right now, staying at home is the safest place for us
But soon we’ll be together—that’s where we belong
But still it’s hard when you miss your friends
And it can feel like this time will never end
But know we’re still thinking of you
You’re in our hearts in all that we do
CHORUS
Bridge:
In times of trouble you can turn things around
By not just thinking of what we’ve lost, but what we’ve found
CHORUS (2xs)
We’re all in this together, my friends
We can all lend a helping hand
Everybody’s doing what they can to help you——
To get through—–
(2nd time) To help you—–
You’ll get through—
TAG:
We’ll sing dance and play, together one day…
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