Music in Catholic Schools

By PHILIP SMITHLEY

We must have music. It is good for our souls. It reminds us of the beauty of God’s world. And through music, through making music or listening to it, we can thank God. Music is one of the best ways to pray.

-Pope John Paul II

Music has always been an integral part of my life. Growing up, my brother and I would take daily visits to visit our grandparents and listen to Oldies with Grandpa, singing along and learning about the different instruments in the music. Throughout my schooling, I participated in numerous musical activities offered by my school and community. These experiences were a great outlet, and offered social time with friends. This came to a head when, as a senior in high school, I realized that I wanted to pursue a career in music education. This decision was impacted by my love of music, and seeing and experiencing how music in our schools can change peoples’ lives for the better.

While at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, I took part in all of the music opportunities I could get my hands on. Some of my favorite experiences were being able to play in a brass ensemble for Sunday Masses on campus, and being able to work with students at St. Mark’s and St. Agnes’ Catholic Schools in St. Paul. These experiences were enlightening, revealing how effective Catholic music programs can be run at schools, as well as how our students can enhance the liturgy through their musical gifts.

Upon graduating and gaining my teaching license, the first job I took was with a Catholic school in rural Minnesota. While I was not specifically looking for a teaching job in a Catholic school, this opportunity allowed me to “jump in” to the field, to work with kids, and to foster their love of music. This was a rather small school, which meant that, for sports and other extracurricular activities, students had to go to a nearby town to participate. However, one of the beautiful things about making music in an ensemble is that it can be done in any size group, and the school worked to ensure that students could receive a band lesson once per week during school, as well as daily band and choir rehearsals during the school day. Nearly every student was in band and/or choir from 6th-12th grade, allowing them to creatively express themselves and to work as a team toward improvement.

After two years there, I began working for a Catholic school just north of Minneapolis. This job brought me to multiple Catholic elementary and middle schools to teach band to students in grades 4-8. Similar to my first teaching experience, these schools offered students a chance to be part of something bigger than themselves. I worked with music colleagues to coordinate a number of opportunities for our band students at our various schools to get to know each other. It was also during this time that I was playing brass for Masses whenever I could, directing a church handbell choir, and singing in a church choir. Through all these experiences, my fellow musicians would reflect on how important music was for them growing up, and how it still holds a special place in their souls.

Now, for the past three years, I have had the great good fortune to teach junior high band at Cotter Schools in Winona. There is a rich musical tradition that emanates from our school, which I am proud to be part of. My time here continues to be fulfilling, and has given me the opportunity to work in a larger classroom than my first two teaching positions. I also have the pleasure of directing a number of small ensembles and giving weekly lessons to students in grades 7-12, and I get to know students and the lives they lead. In working with a wide age range of students, I have learned that they are truly experiencing a multitude of challenges that were not present in any other generation. This, coupled with the mental health training Cotter Schools offers staff so that we can effectively help students, has been truly helpful to make sure that all students feel heard, and cared for.

The music classroom is a place where students from all walks of life are able to come together and progress toward a common good. I have seen students throughout my career who have had assumptions about their classmates that have kept their peers at a distance in all other areas of their school life, but by working together in band, have forged life-long friendships. In a time when there is so much divisiveness in our culture, it is refreshing to see the camaraderie of students who you wouldn’t often see together.

In closing, I would like to offer the following prayer from St. Thomas Aquinas that I begin every class with, for the intention of all of our students, teachers, administrators, custodians, benefactors, and anyone who works with our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, that they may have a restful summer and a joyful school year to come: Grant, O merciful God, that I may ardently desire, prudently examine, truthfully acknowledge, and perfectly accomplish what is pleasing to Thee, for the praise and glory of Thy Name. Amen.

Philip Smithley teaches junior high band at Cotter Schools in Winona.