BCS Arts: Creativity, Confidence, and Character

Enka Intermediate School Music Teacher Richard Cagle loves to watch students grow in confidence and competence in the arts.

By Tim Reaves
BCS Communications Department

Enka Intermediate School Music Teacher Richard Cagle loves to watch students grow in confidence and competence in the arts.

“A music teacher can mean so much to a student,” he said. “We teach students to not only recognize their emotions and their feelings, but also how to express those through the art of music, how to write songs, sing songs, play instruments, and listen to and interpret music.”

As an intermediate school music teacher, Mr. Cagle builds on the foundations learned in elementary school and uses his lessons to help students find their own musical voices. He introduces students to a wide variety of instruments, teaches them rhythm and notation, and prepares them for future endeavors in band, strings, chorus, and musical theater. He focuses strongly on critique – a life skill of giving and receiving specific, useful feedback.

“I want my students to share what they liked about a piece, what they didn’t like, and share it in a way that respects someone of a different opinion,” he said.

It’s part of Mr. Cagle’s overarching focus, helping his students build character and value equity.

“We learn about the huge range of instruments,” he said. “Each one is made differently, makes sounds differently, and they come from various cultures. I use that to talk about diversity, that our country is very diverse. We may look different, dress different, come from different places and backgrounds, but we can come together and create beautiful music with our differences.”

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Check out this video to hear more from Mr. Cagle:

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