MONROE - Stop reading this and sing the "Star Spangled Banner."
Did you remember the lyrics? Did you end up humming somewhere after "by the dawn's early light?"
If you're like 61 percent of Americans, you couldn't sing the entire national anthem. Worse, only 15 percent of our youth can sing all the words, according to statistics from the National Association for Music Education.
That won't be the case at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy. Students there have spent the first two weeks of school taking an in-depth look at the national anthem, learning not only the words and music, but the song's history, its meaning and the proper etiquette called for when singing it.
Ingerid Kvam, music teacher at the school, said she decided to include the national anthem after the music teachers group launched an initiative to educate young people about the "Star Spangled Banner." The group noted:
• More than 70 percent of Americans learned the Star-Spangled Banner at school during music class.
• Thirty-eight percent of teen-agers do not know the name of the national anthem.
• Fewer than 35 percent of teens can name the song's author.
Abe Lincoln students are learning about the song's rich history, something many adults may have forgotten themselves.
Francis Scott Key wrote the song in September 1814 during the War of 1812. Key had boarded a British ship in Chesapeake Bay to arrange the release of Dr. William Beanes, an American physician being held prisoner.
Key himself was detained by the British, who were preparing to launch the Battle of Baltimore. The British attacked Fort McHenry the morning of Sept. 13, and the bombardment continued into the early-morning hours of Sept. 14. It wasn't until the light of day that Key could see the American flag flying over the fort. He was so moved by the sight, he wrote a poem, titled "Defense of Fort McHenry." The poem gained popularity and quickly was set to the tune of popular British drinking song of the day.
Kvam said all students at the school are learning about the song, but in different ways depending on their age. Fourth- and fifth-graders watched a film about the song, and third-graders are learning about history. Second-graders are focusing on the song's words and context. Kindergartners and first-graders are learning the etiquette associated with the national anthem.
Students have enjoyed the unit, Kvam said, especially activities like "Star Spangled Jeopardy" that test their knowledge of the song.
The fact that the national anthem is notoriously difficult to sing well - it covers a range of one and a half octaves - is not a concern. "It's not an easy song," Kvam said. "It's a struggle for a good singer."
Kvam is pleased the students haven't been shy about trying to learn the song and master it. "They don't always hit the right notes, but that's OK," she said. More important is that the students understand the song and its context.
After their in-depth look, "they understand why we sing it, and why we respect it," she said.
To cap off the unit, all Abe students will sing the national anthem around the flagpole outside the school at 9 a.m. Monday. The day is noted as National Anthem Day to honor the anniversary of Key penning the song; schools across the country will be participating by singing at the designated time.
Kvam encourages parents, grandparents and community members to attend the event at Abe Lincoln and join in by singing the "Star Spangled Banner."
Did you remember the lyrics? Did you end up humming somewhere after "by the dawn's early light?"
If you're like 61 percent of Americans, you couldn't sing the entire national anthem. Worse, only 15 percent of our youth can sing all the words, according to statistics from the National Association for Music Education.
That won't be the case at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy. Students there have spent the first two weeks of school taking an in-depth look at the national anthem, learning not only the words and music, but the song's history, its meaning and the proper etiquette called for when singing it.
Ingerid Kvam, music teacher at the school, said she decided to include the national anthem after the music teachers group launched an initiative to educate young people about the "Star Spangled Banner." The group noted:
• More than 70 percent of Americans learned the Star-Spangled Banner at school during music class.
• Thirty-eight percent of teen-agers do not know the name of the national anthem.
• Fewer than 35 percent of teens can name the song's author.
Abe Lincoln students are learning about the song's rich history, something many adults may have forgotten themselves.
Francis Scott Key wrote the song in September 1814 during the War of 1812. Key had boarded a British ship in Chesapeake Bay to arrange the release of Dr. William Beanes, an American physician being held prisoner.
Key himself was detained by the British, who were preparing to launch the Battle of Baltimore. The British attacked Fort McHenry the morning of Sept. 13, and the bombardment continued into the early-morning hours of Sept. 14. It wasn't until the light of day that Key could see the American flag flying over the fort. He was so moved by the sight, he wrote a poem, titled "Defense of Fort McHenry." The poem gained popularity and quickly was set to the tune of popular British drinking song of the day.
Kvam said all students at the school are learning about the song, but in different ways depending on their age. Fourth- and fifth-graders watched a film about the song, and third-graders are learning about history. Second-graders are focusing on the song's words and context. Kindergartners and first-graders are learning the etiquette associated with the national anthem.
Students have enjoyed the unit, Kvam said, especially activities like "Star Spangled Jeopardy" that test their knowledge of the song.
The fact that the national anthem is notoriously difficult to sing well - it covers a range of one and a half octaves - is not a concern. "It's not an easy song," Kvam said. "It's a struggle for a good singer."
Kvam is pleased the students haven't been shy about trying to learn the song and master it. "They don't always hit the right notes, but that's OK," she said. More important is that the students understand the song and its context.
After their in-depth look, "they understand why we sing it, and why we respect it," she said.
To cap off the unit, all Abe students will sing the national anthem around the flagpole outside the school at 9 a.m. Monday. The day is noted as National Anthem Day to honor the anniversary of Key penning the song; schools across the country will be participating by singing at the designated time.
Kvam encourages parents, grandparents and community members to attend the event at Abe Lincoln and join in by singing the "Star Spangled Banner."