Freebirds: An Inside Look
“Find out where joy resides, and give it a voice far beyond singing.”
- Robert Louis Stevenson
I am walking down the hallway of Rock 101 at the tail end of a line of 3-6 year olds. Dustin Harvey, the instructor for today’s Freebirds class, has very successfully convinced the students to walk in line and use indoor voices. He did not lecture them or request these actions. No no, my friends. Dustin created this orderly situation by designing an experience. Today’s hallway experience is called Lasers. As Dustin sweeps his magical laser hands high and low, don’t you dare be in the pathway or you’ll get a haircut. Duck underneath his sweeping hands before it’s too late! If you watch the young students, what you will see on their faces is focus, concentrated movement, and absolute joy. Almost accidentally, one may think, they are also walking down the hall quietly and in a straight line.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me backup and introduce this class. Freebirds is a Rock 101 class specifically geared towards the young rocker, ages 3-6. This class meets weekly for 45 minutes at a time. What do the students learn in Freebirds? To be very official and professional, I will tell you that they will learn guitar, ukulele, drums, piano, and singing. If I were to talk to you off the record - you know, just between us - I would tell you that these students are learning much more.
Let’s take a peek:
Inside the classroom, the young rockers are getting settled. One is a little squiggly and comes a bit too close to his neighbor. Dustin chooses this time to engage in conversation: “Remember last week when you were knocked over? How did that make you feel? How do you think you should act now so that you don’t do that to someone else?” In my time observing the class, the lessons I saw were indeed centered around music but in addition to this I witnessed the cultivation of social-emotional skills, teamwork, and self-esteem, all delivered with compassion and respect.
When I spoke with Dustin about the Freebirds class, the word he used over and over again was “experience.” His goal for every class is that students experience different types of rhythm and movement. At this young age, the students do not carry any preconceived notions about music. What an opportunity to introduce them to a variety of instruments, rhythm, and dancing! In Dustin’s mind, he is creating experiences while providing a safe space for the young rockers to be themselves. By doing this, he is teaching them a new language that they can use to express themselves throughout life. Each lesson is intentional but also provides wiggle room for flexibility. Dustin firmly believes that there is no one way to accomplish any lesson. He prepares a strong plan but then adapts as he observes the students’ reactions and behaviors for that day.
As the students gather around one large drum on the floor, they practice creating different rhythms together as a group. As the activity continues, the smiles grow and the heads come closer together in anticipation. And there’s Dustin, head lowering right along with the students until the rhythm ends and all heads are thrown back in radiant giggles.
Janessa Cruz, another FreeBirds instructor, absolutely adores this age group because of their boundless curiosity and excitement. With a sky-is-the-limit imagination, the students are open to and easily engaged in musical experiences. It is a wonderful time to introduce rhythm not only as a musical element but also because it helps with strengthening focus and motor skills. Janessa focuses the FreeBirds curriculum on being hands-on and FUN. Games are essential as a primary learning tool and although Janessa covers specific learning objectives in each class, she feels it is important to follow the students direction as they move through activities.
The official program description is correct in that Freebirds is a class that provides young students with an understanding of rhythm and melody as it lays the groundwork for a lifelong love of music. From my perspective, however, I would expand this by saying Freebirds is a class that uses musical experiences to teach wholesome self-expression, the cheerfulness of community, and the freedom of joy.
And how to walk down the hall quietly in line.
- Danielle Parker