March is Music in Our Schools Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the impact our Anthony Wayne music teachers are making in the classroom. At Whitehouse Primary, we are fortunate to have Clara Faust sharing the joy of making music together with her students.
A Passion for Teaching and Music
Growing up in Pettisville, Clara came from a family of educators, and she always knew that she would follow in their footsteps to become a teacher. Inspired by her dad, who was also her music teacher, she developed a love for music at an early age. “I was always encouraged to pursue music,” she shared. “I played the flute and sang in a children’s choir, then later joined the band and choir and participated in the musicals.”
Her journey in music education took her to Goshen College in Indiana, where she earned a degree in music education in 2018. She then spent three years teaching K-6 music in Indiana before returning to Ohio. “I moved back so my husband could attend law school at The University of Toledo, and being closer to family is a big plus,” Clara said.
Now in her fourth year at Whitehouse Primary, Clara is committed to giving her students a strong foundation in preparation for a lifetime of music appreciation.
Musing on Musicking
Clara teaches students in kindergarten through grade four, meeting with each class for 30 minutes twice a week. Her approach focuses on making music engaging and accessible for all students, regardless of their skill level.
“In the early years, we focus on being tuneful, beat-full, and artful,” she said. “The goal is to provide a strong musical background on which to build music literacy, similar to the way that students learn how to write, read or speak.”
Kindergarten and first-grade students learn to recognize and reproduce melodies, distinguish between beat and rhythm, and express how music makes them feel through movement, singing and games. As students advance, they delve into music literacy, performance skills, and recognizing musical patterns.
“We spend part of our class time working on music reading, then move on to warmups and singing or playing,” she said. “We practice ‘musicking’ – exploring and making music that touches on different learning standards.”
Her father remains an inspiration and occasional collaborator. “Sometimes we attend professional development together, and exchange ideas and advice,” Clara said. It’s fun to be able to relate to him professionally, and he supports me by coming to my students’ performances.”
The Impact of Music Education
For Clara, music education is about more than just notes and rhythms—it’s about life skills.
“Music has played such a significant role throughout my life, and I found a sense of community in it,” she said. “It’s the feeling of working together to accomplish something as a group. That collaboration carries over to all areas of life.”
Clara said she strives to help students develop a foundation in music that prepares them for both future musical pursuits and everyday moments. Acknowledging that music isn’t every student’s interest, she encourages them to try it because music is woven into most aspects of our lives.
“If they have an interest and want to study music as they get older, I want to give them a good foundation so they can be prepared for the next level,” she said. “But I also want all students to have a basic understanding and appreciation of music so they can sing a lullaby, clap along at a sporting event, or dance at a wedding. Music is such a part of our lives, and I want them to find it approachable and enjoyable.”
To engage students, she connects lessons to their interests. “A recent lesson on Trombone Shorty appealed to students who like sports because they knew him from the Super Bowl pregame performance,” she said.
She also enjoys teaching the folk dancing unit. “It’s a fun way to build community and cooperation—it’s not fancy, but everyone can have fun trying.”
Advocating for Music Education
Clara said Music in Our Schools Month serves as a reminder of the importance of music education. “It raises awareness of how music is a big part of our lives and encourages students to explore music beyond my classroom,” she said.
She emphasized that family and community support contributes to student success in the arts. “The community at Anthony Wayne really values its music programs. You can see it at the football games—we love our Marching Generals,” Clara said. “But if we want music at that level, we need kids excited about music at the primary level. This is where it starts. It’s important to support that early development of music interest and skill as well.”
She believes that music is a connecting force that helps prepare students for the future.
“Learning music doesn’t just make you a better musician; it makes you a better human,” she said. “It teaches discipline, teamwork and how to handle emotions in a positive way.”
Looking ahead, Clara hopes to give students more opportunities to create their own music. “It’s a professional goal of mine to have kids work more independently, making choices about how they want to show what they know,” she said.
For families looking to get more involved in music, she suggests, “Children’s choirs are a great developmental step, and piano or guitar lessons can give them something they can enjoy for a lifetime.”
Making an Impact
Clara said it is always satisfying to see a student develop an interest in music, whether it’s through a thank you note from a current student, or a visit from one who has moved on to middle school.
“One of the most rewarding moments is when a student comes back, maybe during an open house for a younger sibling, and tells me they joined the band or choir,” she said. “It’s exciting to hear about their experiences in middle school and beyond and know that I was a small part of that.”
She recalled a particularly inspiring student: “It wasn’t clear to me that she found music particularly enjoyable or engaging—until we started learning recorder. She took to it right away, practicing on her own, mentoring other students. We just needed to find something that she enjoyed.”
Ultimately, she wants her students to understand that music is for everyone. “You don’t have to be the best singer or play an instrument proficiently,” she said. “Everyone has the capability to be musical—it just looks different for different people.”
This Music in Our Schools Month, we want to celebrate Clara Faust and all she does to inspire young musicians and set them up for success as performers and enjoyers of music. Thank you for providing opportunities for them to explore and collaborate through vocal and instrumental music!