Making music in Kent County

You may walk into Ashton Mooday’s classroom, but there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll start dancing once you arrive. The elementary school musicians will encourage you and may even join in!

An elementary school music teacher, Mooday works with grades pre-Kindergarten through 5th at two schools in Kent County. She splits her time between Galena Elementary and Rock Hall Elementary, working with students across grade levels to introduce them to the basics of making music. Students attend music class as one of their “specials,” classes designed to introduce elementary kids to the arts and other specialized instruction.

When she’s not teaching, Mooday works on her own music as a singer/songwriter. “I used songwriting as a way to cope with trials and tribulations that I experienced growing up and then it turned into an outlet to express emotions.” She recorded her first EP in 2017 and is releasing a third album, “Unapologetic,” in March.

Mooday’s love of music began early in life. She sang as a young child and used music to express herself. With a newly-purchased flute, Mooday joined her school band in 7th grade. After moving to Maryland, she started to get serious about music in high school. It became an outlet for her.

“As I got older, music was the one thing that made me excited, not just to come to school, but made me excited in general,” she said. “It got me out of the house, got me away from what was going on at home. I just really connected with it. I knew early on.”

She earned a B.S. in Music Education and a B.A. in Flute Performance from Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. While attending, she participated in marching band, symphonic band, concert choir, flute ensemble, and a saxophone quartet. With plenty of performances under her belt, she was ready to embrace her passion for music education after graduation. After returning to her home community in Maryland, becoming a music teacher was the next step.

“I always wanted to be a teacher and when I got interested in music, I thought it makes sense that I should be a music teacher because that’s what I’m really passionate about.”

In addition to working with kids across both elementary schools in class, Mooday also leads before-school rehearsals, practice sessions for various instruments and sections in the band, and a weekly after-school music club.

Developing Musicians

Like most teachers, Mooday teaches so much more than just how to play instruments. While students are strumming on their ukuleles or pounding on bucket drums, they are also practicing social-emotional and team-building skills. The preKindergarten class learns how to take turns and support each other while practicing keeping rhythm. Older students put on concerts and learn the basics of reading music and performing as a group. Students also get to watch the middle and high school students during their annual Winter Tour, getting inspiration about what is possible in the music department.

Every spring, students participate in a showcase. “The elementary band, middle school band, high school band all play,” said Mooday. “You get to see the progression.”

Growing up in Kent County, Mooday has a strong connection to her community. When Galena Elementary was a middle school, she was actually a student there. Now, she gets to walk the halls and make music as a teacher. The size of the band at Galena doubled this year and she gets to rehearse with them in the morning and during class.

“The kids just love music,” she said. “They love creating. They love instruments.”

The Rock Hall Elementary kazoo band is known through the community for their fun performances and parade appearances. They rode on a float in multiple parades, performing pieces on kazoos to bring the joy of music to the community and introduce them to performance. The band is formed of students in grades 3 through 5 at Rock Hall Elementary.

“I love working with kids, we as teachers–especially in the arts–we have so much influence in their lives and how they’re going to cope with situations and how they express themselves,” said Mooday. “I love seeing their joy and seeing them learn how to express themselves through music.”

If you want to spend the day tapping your toes and smiling as young musicians get introduced to a passion that can guide their life, just like it did for Ashton Mooday, just go to a performance. You’ll walk out of an auditorium dancing or spend the morning in the sunshine at a parade. You can also catch her live performances of original songs, listen to her music on all streaming platforms, or follow her on social media @ashtonmooday.

Katie Melynn is a Marylandbased freelance writer and teaching artist. Her work has appeared in The Spruce, People, At Ease, and other print and digital publications. When she’s not writing, she teaches creative writing with the Apex Arts Magnet Program in Anne Arundel County. You can follow her on social media @katiemelynnwriter.