The halls are alive with the sound of music! No, not the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical story of the Von Trapp family, but the beautiful sound of children learning to sing, read notes, and enjoy the gift of music, classically.
Music has been ringing through the lobby these first few days of school, as our childrens’ voices match the piano notes, warming up their voices and going up and down the scales. Ah, ah, ah, ah, AH, ah, ah, ah. It’s enough to melt the heart of this long-time TRA staffer.
This music in our halls is all thanks to Ruth Dagg, our new music teacher. Mrs. Dagg has been teaching piano and vocal students for years here in the valley. She is a member of the Columbia Chorale, Wenatchee Valley Music Teachers, attends Grace City Church, and helps with Stage Kids now and then.
I feel I want to echo Captain Von Trapp’s tearfully grateful sentiment… “She’s brought music back into the house again!” Truly, in a very real way, Mrs. Dagg is bringing a classical and Christian music program to The River. While music in the classroom for learning math and grammar and history has long been a bedrock of an education at TRA, well-employed in our hallways for singing Psalms and in the Great Hall for worship, we haven’t had an intentionally comprehensive program, and that is precisely what Ruth is setting out to build. In fact, in her interview, she may have boldly remarked regarding the position, “It’s all or nothing. I want to build this program.”
I think bold is a very apt description for this fabulous woman who even has kindergarteners already navigating the scales joyfully in song. She has begun planning our December Christmas Program and will teach the student body and faculty the harmonies for our Monday morning Psalm Sing. If you see Ruth in the hallways or hear her leading our children in lovely songs from the far end of the Lunch Room (now set apart as our new Music Room), please greet her and thank her for her mission-focused purpose and work here at The River Academy. She is a long-awaited blessing!
-Tonya Griffith
Secondary Principal
