As the summer of 2016 winds down and thoughts turn to the start of school, music educator, Jane Boyle, finds herself reminiscing over the past 19 years of teaching. This year, she will start her 20th year as a music educator. When you are a music specialist, you have the honor of teaching EVERY student in the school. Because her career has taken her to many different states, school districts, and schools, the number of students she has had the privilege to teach is very large. They have all had a tremendous impact on her. Her hope is that she has had an impact on them as well.

Dear Students…

It’s my favorite time of year! After the long summer, school is about to start. We are all refreshed, excited, full of energy and ideas, and ready to start a new year! Okay, maybe you’re not quite there yet, but come the first day of school, we will be ready to rock!

I have been thinking about all of you a lot this summer…and not just my current students I’ll see in a few weeks, but all of you. After 20 year of teaching in six different states, I have taught thousands of you. It makes me wonder…what lessons have stuck with you over the years? Musical concepts, composers, games, songs…or life lessons of cooperation, hard work, commitment, self-worth, and pride. To each of you I share these thoughts.

To my past students…

It’s hard to believe that some of you are married and probably with children of your own. While I may have only been with you a year or two, I hope the lessons we shared together made an impact on your life. I remember we made great music! I remember my first concert as an elementary chorus director. I remember a fun hula celebration. I remember the whole school singing What a Wonderful World outside by the flag just days after 9/11. I remember six middle school musical productions. I remember the all-kindergarten musical production. I remember the all-district elementary chorus festival. These are just some of the moments I remember. Sometimes a memory will make me smile, others make my eyes a bit watery remembering the intensity of those special moments. We shared laughter and tears and it makes my heart so full to remember each one. What about you? Are you still singing? Do you still play your instrument? It’s not too late to make music a part of your everyday life. When you were with me, some of you would ask the question, “Why do we learn music? I’m not going to be a music teacher.” My answer was always the same: You learn music because to listen to it, to understand it, to appreciate it…it will enrich your life. As parents, I hope you are fostering that love of music in your children right from birth. Sing to them and dance with them. Find opportunities for group instruction right away – like Kindermusik! I cherish those moments with my children when they were babies. Keep music in your lives!

To my current students…

I will see you in a few weeks! I have so many exciting opportunities planned for us this year. You are all so bright, energetic, and eager to learn. I can’t wait to see how much you’ve grown and to hear about your summer adventures. I promise to take time to listen to each of you. Together, we will learn and grow. We have built a great foundation as a team over the past three years. We will experience life and continue making music together. I hope it will enrich your life as much as it does mine.

To my future students…

I can’t wait to meet you! Incoming Kindergarteners – we will have so much fun together! We will sing, dance, and play instruments every week. I promise help you become the person you are meant to be – music is magical like that. You will inspire me everyday. I hope to inspire your love of music too! Musically with love,

Jane Boyle is a 20 year veteran music educator. She has taught in New York, Illinois, Hawai’i, California, Indiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. During her career she has done just about everything from preschool, elementary, and middle school music education to church and community choirs. She has dedicated her life to the musical education of young people. And yes, when her kids were young, they attended Kindermusik!