The Swan Song

I did the Swan Song with my students today.

We were in music class, and I told them that since today's music lesson would be the last music lesson they would be having with me forever (they're graduating students), everyone was to use one rhythmic instrument each and play their swan song with it.

If you're wondering what's this about 'swan songs', a swan song refers to the final or last word you have to say about something.

I played my swan song too, and felt it within me as I expressed it on my rhythmic instrument to my students in class. I shall not describe my swan song to you, though my heart felt heavy and reflective as I tapped the beats out to my class.

Then, one by one, my students took the stage - declaring to their classmates that they were about to play their swan song. And they played. Regardless of who played, everyone clapped and cheered loudly to show their support for that person after each presentation.

For that moment, fixed in time this year, I shall remember how my class stood in a circle, each and every person in solidarity regardless of their differences and squabbles, clapping and cheering loudly for a fellow classmate taking the stage for the last time in his/her primary school life to play his/her swan song.

It was to be after all, the final song we would play together in Miss Jeanie Lee's music class, and a song that Miss Jeanie Lee will remember even after she leaves on her next adventure...