Holbrook Indian School

A Seventh-day Adventist Boarding Academy Serving Native American Youth Since 1946

Making Music at Holbrook Indian School

“M iss Nieb, are we having music today?” This question often greets me as I’m passing between classes or eating in the cafeteria. I have the privilege of being the music director, in addition to teaching English and math, at Holbrook Indian School (HIS). I love the energy and enthusiasm the students have for artistic expression and for music at this school.

Holbrook was built with a strong emphasis in music. However, when the previous music director retired 15 years ago, the music program closed. For 12 years, no solid connection to music existed at Holbrook. About three years ago, Loren Fish, counselor at HIS, launched a program to expose

By Michelle Nieb

students to classical music through recitals and concerts. Last year, task force worker Amy Loredo began involving students in making music through instrumental lessons and group singing. These two efforts

drummed up student excitement leading into this school year as the first year of a full music program officially launched.

We are building strong foundations of musical principles and life skills

to set students up for success. Firstthrough third-graders are learning through singing games; students are practicing important concepts as we play. The students in fourth through sixth grade are building musical literacy through singing, instrumental work, and other activities. The seventh- through

twelfth-grade classes are participating in beginning band and a choir. I am excited about being able to educate students at every level so that, as time passes, students will be able to notice their musical abilities improve.

Practicing and making beautiful music is rewarding both intellectually and spiritually. For the first performance, the seventh- through twelfth-grade choir sang 3- and 4-part rounds at an assembly. During the warm-up the students’ nerves were

Holbrook Indian School (HIS) is a first- through

twelfth-grade boarding academy operated by the Pacific Union Conference of the Seventhday Adventist Church. HIS also manages a

first- through eighth-grade day school on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona. Eighty percent of funding comes from individuals who have a desire to support Native American ministries and Christian education. Your generosity makes a difference in the lives of our students, their families, and the communities they serve. Thank you for your support.

evident, but their voices were strong. I prayed with them and told them to rely on their hard work and on Jesus. They amazed everyone with their tone and ability to sing parts in such a short amount of learning time. The choir students glowed and walked with extra confidence after creating beauty for everyone to enjoy.

As the music teacher at HIS, my desire is to lead students to gain confidence in Jesus and in what He can do through them. Lessons in the classroom carry over into life situations. My hope is that the students learn that they are capable of holding their heads high in a setting where failure seems inevitable and that they will continue to trust in God.

Seventh-day Adventist

DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT P.O. Box 910 Holbrook, Arizona 86025-0910 (928) 524-6845 (Ext. 109) Development@hissda.org HolbrookIndianSchool.org