Tunes and tales from another time
By Bry Ells
From now on, when I hear the phrase, “make learning fun,” I will think of Gary. Changing the scenery, getting out of the classroom, and being directly involved and hands-on are all great methods for encouraging students’ interest and participation. Gary Eller, aka Slim, created the perfect environment to see this in action. At Farmin-Stidwell Elementary, I witnessed how engaged students are when they are excited and challenged, but also how much they retain when they enjoy what hey are learning.
Our teacher tells us to form a line at the door and we all rush, excited for a break from our times tables. I still can’t master the 7s. We half run in a somewhat single-file line down the hall as other classes organize themselves for the assembly. We’re the first class to arrive, so we get to sit the closest to the speaker!
Gary curated the Idaho Songs of the Early Panhandle Program as he sought to write and share the local stories that may have otherwise been lost to history. He has spent more than a decade developing and sharing the Idaho Songs Program across our state and has compiled roughly 200 historically rooted songs of our region. Most of the songs were unearthed as old sheet music and had never been recorded until Eller brought them back to life.
I’m not always excited about assemblies, but it’s always nice to take a break from class. Today, I actually can’t wait for the presentation! Our teacher says the guest is a singer that shares stories about Idaho history. I’m in fourth grade, so I just learned about that in school this year!
Eller’s performance is one to be shared and seen by many, including our youth who will be the storytellers of our next generation, responsible for continuing to propel our history through the years of advancements to come.
A lady from the Museum introduces our guest as Gary Eller. He has put together a presentation with songs of Idaho people, some even 100 years ago! I wonder what kids enjoyed then? We even get to sing along! This is so much better than math class.
Our children are capable of understanding much more than we often recognize, but witnessing the enthusiasm and capability children have to retain and teach the knowledge they obtain, was something unfathomable until I saw it, first-hand. I watched nearly 100 students be truly engaged and participate in his program. They had excellent and relevant questions for Eller, and never lost their excitment.
He starts singing, and we quickly quiet down, but soon he invites us to join in. THere’s a lot of cool stories projected up on the screen, and there are lines at the bottom, so we know what to sing. I bet kids have always liked field trips and assemblies outside the classroom! My friend from the other fourth grade class even got to sit with me!
Learning can always be exciting, and Gary Eller’s music, music in general, makes storytelling and learning enjoyable for all.
At the end, we review everything that we learned, and I can’t believe that I recall so much of what he shared. The songs were catchy and easy to remember. I still can’t memorize my times tables, but I wonder if there’s a song for that too? Then I’d definitely be better at math! I’m going to sing some of the songs to my family tonight.
“Ponderay. Ponderay. Now you better get to shoutin’ right away.
Ponderay. Ponderay. What’s the matter with Old Lake Ponderay.”
The Idaho Songs program was presented by the Bonner County Historical Society and Museum at Farmin Stidwell Elementary on Friday, May 5, 2023.