Orchestra and chorus teacher Amy Davis has started teaching from home to reduce the risk of her high-risk husband contracting COVID-19. In her absence, temporary teacher Melanie Richardson already has made an impact on the students. 

“Everybody loves her in my class,” eighth-grader Maya S. said.

Maya has been impressed with Richardson’s understanding of music.

“She has gone over rhythms, dynamics, notes and etcetera,” Maya said. “She also goes over scales and arpeggios.”

Eighth-grader Eliza H. also shares this opinion.

“She doesn’t play a string instrument, but she plays piano and she knows about what we are doing,” she said. “She gives us good tips.”

Richardson likes action more than talk, according to eighth-grader Suhina M., an e-learner.

“The people in class play [their instruments] and we mute ourselves and play along,” she said. “We only talk sometimes.”

In addition, Maya said Richardson is very good at playing the piano.

“When she teaches, she usually accompanies us on the piano,” she said. “At the end of a piece, she would always tell us what we did right and what we need to improve more on. She will go over all the scores for all sections and check whether there is a gap in each section.”

Maya said she and her classmates appreciate Richardson’s teaching style.

“All in all, I and my orchestra classmates enjoy having her as a teacher for this semester,” she said. “She makes sure no one is left out.”

By Riley McKee

Editor’s note: Brevard Public Schools policy prohibits the inclusion of middle-schoolers’ last names on district-sponsored websites.