2013 Honored Mother of Education, Alonna Randall

 Meet Alonna Randall, one of two of Arizona's Honored Mothers of Education for 2013.

 

Alonna is a retired Music teacher who taught music in Chandler & Gilbert for 27 years! She received the Gilbert Superintendent’s “Excellence in the Workplace” award. She retired in 2010 after 39 years!

Alonna and her husband blended families in 1984, and together raised 5 children and have 20 awesome grandchildren!  She is grateful to her husband, Mark, who made it possible for her to be a mother and teacher at the same time. She has always served as a choir director & teacher in church. Currently she and her husband are serving a Young Adult group at ASU and she is teaching piano to their grandchildren.  She is very grateful for her years as a teacher, church worker, mother and grandmother!

We asked Alonna some questions and here are her answers: 

 

How can music enrich a child's life?  I have seen that children begin responding to music at a very early age! Music is the universal language; it transcends language barriers and cultures. Responding to music is as natural as walking or talking. I feel that students who study music have a better chance to succeed in their lives! Here are ten reasons that studies have shown help children in their lives:

 

·       Music enhances the  development of language, reasoning & math skills

·       Music helps master memorization

·       Music teaches excellence

·       Music gives children a sense of achievement

·       Students who take music stay engaged and focused in school

·       Music produces a sense of success

·       Music students do better in school

·       Music builds imagination and curiosity

·       Music develops creative thinking

·       Music builds confidence.

 

What things did you do as a mother and/or music teacher to encourage your children with music? I have taught piano lessons to each of our children and several grandchildren and it is such a bonding thing. We sing together most Sunday nights after family dinner, and we love it. Looking back, the following are some of the ways I tried to encourage our children and now our grandchildren with music.

 

·       Singing out loud to and with them

·       Listening to music in the home and in the car

·       Having instruments around for the children to play and experiment with

·       Incorporating music in our daily routines: singing while we work

·       Teaching through music. Singing the days of the week, alphabet, counting, etc.

·       Taking the children to musical productions and concerts

·       Singing together at family gatherings & Christmas Caroling

 

What are your favorite music ideas to do with families or your favorite family songs?

 We have a family tradition of singing, Happy Birthday to You on each birthday, but then we add a song, “Skip Around the Room” after the candles are blown out, and the birthday child skips around the room while we sing. It is a lot of fun!

 

We also go Christmas Caroling on Christmas Eve wearing our Santa hats and colorful red & green clothing. We walk up the street caroling and delivering goodies to our neighbors. It is a tradition that we look forward to. We also act out the nativity with songs incorporated in the script.

 

Two of our favorite family songs to sing were written by my husband’s grandmother, Bertha Kleinman. Those songs are: I Have Two Little Hands and Mary’s Lullaby! We enjoy singing hymns and fun songs as well.  Congratulations, Alonna!