HOPE – The teaching profession is a family tradition for Kathryn Rose, Yerger Middle School choral director and assistant band director.\r\n
\r\n“I’m a fourth generation teacher,” Rose, who came to the Hope Public Schools at mid-term in January, said.\r\n
\r\nHer mother taught social studies at Henderson Middle School in Little Rock, where Rose was raised and acquired her love for music.\r\n
\r\n“I started band in the sixth grade,” she said. “My mother had been in band through school and it became my thing.”\r\n
\r\nA 2016 graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia with a bachelor of music education degree and a vocal music teaching certification, Rose is part of a new music education coterie in the Hope Public Schools. \r\n
\r\nShe has taught choral music at Yerger Middle School and assisted Choral Music Director Sandra Jones at Beryl Henry Elementary School.\r\n
\r\n“Most of my day now will be teaching general music at Yerger and beginner band,” Rose said.\r\n
\r\nAn emphasis upon general music and beginning band is part of the philosophy of the Hope program which attracted Rose.\r\n
\r\n“It just begins with trying,” she said. “You may not hit the right notes right now, but you can sing.”\r\n
\r\nRose expands upon that approach over time in teaching choral music, taking students from foundation to technique to performance.\r\n
\r\n“This year we’re going to focus more on our music,” she said.\r\n
\r\nRose said the beauty of music, whether instrumental or vocal, is its consistent foundation.\r\n
\r\n“They’re pretty similar,” she said. “Instead of having an instrument, you’re using your voice; there are right ways to use it and wrong ways. They use the same notes; just different ways to produce them.”\r\n
\r\nRose, who took voice lessons during high school, believes the transition between instrumental and vocal performance is mostly mental.\r\n
\r\n“It’s the difference between an external instrument and an internal instrument,” she said. “Anyone can learn.”\r\n
\r\nRose is married to Yerger Middle School Band Director Brandon Ellis. She said the couple met while studying at Henderson State. Rose is a member of Tau Beta Sigma band sorority, Sigma Alpha Iota, the professional music fraternity at HSU, and the National Association of Music Educators.\r\n
