Embedded Files
Music Around the World
Hi! I'm Tonnye Fletcher and 2025-26 is my eleventh year teaching music and my 28th year teaching! I taught 2nd or 3rd grade for 17 years, and I loved it! I am also loving teaching music to K-2 students at Whiteville Primary School. I enjoy singing, and I played trumpet from 6th grade at Central Middle School through college. I graduated from SCC with an AFA in Music, went on to get my BA in Arts and Humanities, and then a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. I am nationally board certified as an Early Childhood Generalist. Outside of school, I love singing and dancing, writing music, listening to music and making music! I also enjoy reading and writing, and lots of time in nature, as well as spending time with my friends and family!
Also, outside of school, I help to lead a non-profit group that promotes literacy. We are CCNCRA -- Columbus Council of the North Carolina Reading Association. I have always been a proponent of literacy throughout my career, and encourage students to read and write at every opportunity. I lead the WolfCub Writers' Club at Whiteville Primary School, which has had great success, including winners of the NCRA Young Authors' Project and the AR Ammons Poetry contest. In fact, I am an author outside of school, too. I write a blog called PBJamz where I highlight picture books with musical connections, interview authors, illustrators and musicians, and give away things like books, critiques, and school visits. I am releasing my first picture book, MUSIC PLANTS HOPE, in May 2026! I am blessed to share 3 of my greatest passions in my job here at WPS -- reading, writing, and MUSIC!
Each year, I choose a theme to anchor lessons throughout the year, and to provide a fun emphasis. It also serves as a springboard for integrating other subjects into my lessons. The theme for 2025-26 is Music Around the World. We will be exploring various places on the globe and also exploring their music and culture. Social studies therefore will be a heavy connection this year.
This year, we'll be reading, performing, analyzing, singing along, playing along, listening to, watching, and learning about all kinds of music and musical instruments from all over the world.
This month in Music:
August/September!
For this first month in music, we'll be getting acclimated to the music room, including rules and procedures.
Each week, students will have the opportunity for some work in meditation or character education, vocal exploration (working with pitch), keeping a steady beat and learning to play simple rhythms. Each visit to the music room will also bring a mini-lesson, where we dig into a music concept to learn all we can. Sometimes a topic may extend over several weeks. Each class will end with "boogies and byes" -- a fun dance or movement song, along with hugs, high-fives or fist bumps for a job well done in music!
The first music program of the year is Tuesday, October 21 at 6:30 at Bowers Auditorium, and it's titled "Celebrating Autumn Around the World"
We only get 45 minutes together each week, so it is important that they give 100%! Students are expected to participate fully and with good attitude. We only grow if we try new things, so I will be working with your children to help them cultivate a sense of adventure in the music room! :-)
Page updated
Report abuse