By Matt Hoover
USD 475 Communications Coordinator
JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - A journey rooted in creativity, confidence and the power of movement in music education has officially become a published reality for Lincoln Elementary music teacher and now author Freedom Brass with the release of her new book, Moving Through the Moons.The book grew from years of encouragement from publisher Brent Holl of Beatin’ Path Publications, who continually inspired and encouraged Brass to begin sharing the creative movement ideas she developed, and uses in her elementary music classroom at Lincoln each and every day.“His encouragement planted the seed that eventually became this little book,” said Brass.
Inspired by the imaginative names of the full moons throughout the year, Brass created lessons that blend music, nature, storytelling, creativity and movement into engaging classroom experiences for students.Throughout the book, readers are invited to step into imaginative worlds through lessons such as wolf pack rhythm challenge where children become wolves traveling through winter forests or a flower moon garden story where students transform into garden gnomes.“Creative movement opened the door to an entirely new kind of expression for my students. I watched children grow in confidence, take creative risks, collaborate with others, and discover that the music room could become a safe place to truly be themselves. Movement gave students another language for understanding music and communicating emotion, imagination and joy,” said Brass.That joy can now be found in her book, which she hopes provides elementary music teachers with both practical classroom ideas and inspiration to explore movement-based learning in their own teaching environments.
“Even though the ideas came naturally in my classroom, it took me several years to truly believe that I had something unique and worthy to share with other teachers,” said Brass. “Much of that inspiration grew from my own training through the American Orff-Schulwerk Association certification process, which is an intensive three-summer journey focused on recorder, singing, pedagogy and creative movement. While every part of the training shaped me as a teacher, the movement component ultimately transformed my classroom the most. I hope this book encourages teachers to adapt these ideas, make them their own, and discover the incredible creativity that can emerge when children are given the freedom to move, create and express themselves.
Moving Through the Moons is dedicated to the students of Lincoln Elementary, whose imaginations, laughter, movement and willingness to create helped shape the lessons found on the pages inside the book.“In many ways, they helped write this book alongside me,” said Brass. “For that, I am deeply grateful. They continually remind me to see the beauty and wonder in the world around me, and they challenge me to never underestimate the creativity children carry within them.”
Brass’ book, Moving Through the Moons, can now be purchased online by visiting www.beatinpathpublications.com and searching for new releases.