KET Past President

Vivian Ferchill

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I am  excited to begin another Kodály year! I have a new principal who loves music and students who are ready to soak up music like a sponge! We also have a new President and a visionary board for Kodály Educators of Texas! I think it’s a great idea to have a theme for the year and singing is my favorite thing!

As I think about how important singing is for me, I always take a trip back in time to my Girl Scout years. I went all the way through the Girl Scout program from Brownies to Seniors. I spent many an hour singing around a campfire. This is when I developed my passion for singing and music and also discovered I had the ability to lead others in singing. Many of the folk songs and patriotic songs I know from my childhood were a basic part of my Girl Scout experiences. We had so much fun singing together, whether it was a beautiful round, a silly song, a “rip your heart out” ballad, or an action song.

Girl Scouts is also where I learned to sing in parts. Many of the songs had an ostinato or clapping pattern to accompany the song. My best friend throughout high school was my singing partner in Girl Scouts. We sang in harmony all the time. The other scouts were always asking us to sing. Though I was very shy, I developed a bit of stage presence through these wonderful times singing together.

So as we sing in our classrooms this year, don’t forget those good old tried and true camp songs you may have learned in Girl Scouts or at summer camp! I still have my Girl Scout singing book. If you don’t have one, you can probably get one from any Girl Scout Council in your area.

Vivian Ferchill