Da Da Boom Shoo Bop……

Yesterday marked my last day of the year teaching with the CMPD (Center for Music by People with Disabilities) program at a local middle school. I have been fortunate to be a musician in the program for ten years now and look forward to many more, depending on continued grants to fund the program.

I am one of many musicians that rotate through the schools, and was the first one hired by my musical mentor and the program’s founder DKM. He chose to end the school year with the two of us.

Many of the children at this middle school we also taught in the elementary schools, so we have developed a solid relationship and trust with them.

Yesterday I brought my guitar and some drums, and DKM had his usual magic tricks and musical lessons. We invited the kids up to have a “solo.” I accompanied on guitar.   One girl, B, has consistently belted out tunes from “The Sound of Music” for the last year.  DKM challenged her yesterday, asking her to sing a NEW tune, even if it was “la la la.”

Her eyes looked at me- round moons of anxiety. I hadn’t seen that look since I first met her in third grade, when she was barely able to say her name let alone sing anything in front of a group.

One of her buddies in the class suggested a song she had sung in choir. Although still hesitant, a slight nod of her head indicated she would comply.

She slowly put her head down to her chest, confining her shy nature and adverting her eyes to build her confidence. B started singing softly, barely audible to me as I strained to find the pitch her voice was presenting. Then a slight crescendo developed  and I located her pitch.

DKM jumped on his flute, matching my chords. She sang “Da da boom shoo bop, da da boom shoo bop.” There was a faint hint of a familiar melody line she sang to my ears. B lifted her head slightly, and as her voice became louder I heard “Stand by me….” incorporated in with the “boom shoo bops” and a song was born.

As I recognized what she was singing, I increased my vocals to support her confidence. Her head lifted further, and a smile formed on her face. I went with her energy.  I stood up.  We started belting out “stand by me.”

The reaction that followed took me by surprise. One at a time, all ten students in the room slowly started joining in. Some of these students have barely talked this year in the times I have been there. Within minutes, students and teachers alike were all standing up belting out in forte “Baa da boom shoo bop” while we sang “stand by me.” Natural movement accompanied and soon everyone was rocking back and forth.

I got chills….the good kind. For five minutes we were stuck on a musical island, and I did not want the moment to end.  There are days when I wonder if the role I play can possibly make a difference. Then there are magical musical moments that provides me with the answer.   For B and the rest of the students and staff in that classroom, I hope that our moment together will remain etched permanently in their memory.  Because, just maybe, when we all feel a little uncertain of ourselves we can recognize that those are the times that we grow. Those moments, strung together, create joy. Those voices, joined together in common unity, create peace and love.

LIFE LESSON: Stand by Me. I will stand by You too..and together we can create a bit of harmony.

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