February 4, 2025
By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Rutherford County Schools
Two months of digging into songs by singers Kane Brown and Hailey Withers helped Rockvale Middle School students craft an inspirational song for their peers and teachers.
Gifted education facilitator Dr. Chandra Bennett participated in the Words and Music program led by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Considered the organization’s flagship education initiative, it was created in 1979 to expose students to songwriting by converting their feelings, ideas and thoughts into songs.
She enjoyed the process and challenge of creating a song in an hour and thought her students would, too.
They used narrative writing skills from English Language Arts and Writing classes to analyze songs, Bennett explained. Those lessons helped them develop concepts and outlines for a song of their own.
“Our goal was to create a song that would inspire/encourage students at RMS,” Bennett said.
Students voted on the outlines three times before selecting one written by sixth-grade students Ella Kate Bartlett and Hannah Turnbow as the basis for the tune, which focuses on mental health.
“I knew if I was having bad days, other people had to feel the same way,” Bartlett said.
“I was surprised when I heard ours was chosen but it’s important,” Turnbow said.
During a Zoom session with songwriter Michelle Pereira, students shared how challenging situations and embarrassing moments can lead to a “hurricane of feelings.”
“It’s so relatable,” Pereira said. “You’re a lot younger than I am. I love that y’all were able to pick something that people can relate to.”
Throughout the hour-long writing process, Pereira encouraged students to share ideas for words and phrases. The result was a song titled “(Like a) Hurricane.”
In sharing the song with Rockvale Middle’s staff, Bennett said she was impressed with her students, especially their vulnerability.
“May this song serve as a reminder from our students that ‘you're gonna be okay’ and encourage all of us to ‘stress less, do our best, and pass life's tests,’” she wrote.
To learn more about Words and Music, visit https://www.countrymusichalloffame.org/learn/words-and-music.
PHOTOS/MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Top: Dr. Chandra Bennett, gifted education facilitaror at Rockvale Middle, encourages a student during a songwriting lesson with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.
Bottom:
Dr. Chandra Bennett, gifted education facilitator at Rockvale Middle, introduces students Hannah Turnbow, left, and Ella Kate Bartlett and to songwriter Michele Pereira via Zoom.