[Theme Special] Bonghwa โฃDongyang Elementary School: Students Compose “Ourโค Song” -โข A Melody of Daily Life
Bonghwa Dongyang Elementary School has unveiledโค aโ new school song, uniquely crafted with input directly from its students, capturing the โessence of their everyday experiences.The project originated within an AI Music Festival class,where student-suggested words โคand stories formed the โคlyrical foundation of the song.
Teacherโ Choi Ju-min of Bongseong elementary School composedโ a radiant and cheerfulโค melody, intentionally mirroring the children’s โnatural language. Lyricsโข reflect beloved school activities like experiential learning, school lunches, and playtime on โคthe โfloor playground. the school describes the initiativeโค as “a special educational โขexperience โขthat โขrecordsโ the scenery ofโข a small school through song.”
Initial โฃreactions to the songโ wereโค varied. Some students initially rated it low, with one stating, “It’sโ hard to give evenโ 1 point.” However, with repeated practice, student โsatisfaction grew. Positive feedback evolved to include comments like “It’s 67 points” and โ”The melody is good,” and as choir practice โprogressed, students’ enthusiasm visibly increased.
Students shared their evolvingโค feelings, noting, “Itโฃ was strange at first, but it got better when we sang it together,” โขand “I think it has become aโข song that willโ remember our school for a long time.” โฃTeacher Choi emphasized the importance of the acclimation process,stating,”As โคthe process of getting used to it isโ important,we reflectedโข the children’s reactions in our work.” Teachersโ observed a clear positive โฃshift in students’ expressions โthroughout the practiceโข period.
School officials โbelieve theโข song has fostered a stronger โฃsense of community,โฃ noting, “It seemsโข like one song โคbecame โan opportunity to unite theโข emotionsโ ofโ the community.” โค
The school has โฃadopted a dual-song approach: maintaining the existing school song as a linkโค between current students and alumni,while utilizing the new song as โขa contemporary reflection of student life.
A closing performance featuring a chorusโ between students and the local music team ‘Autumn Garden’ โinโค the โschool auditorium was met withโ keen applause. Students expressed their enjoyment, saying, “It wasโ better to sing โฃtogether than โto sing alone,”โค and “Iโ liked school better.” Theโ school ultimately evaluated the project as “an opportunityโฃ to further strengthen the intimacy and community that are โthe strengths of a small school โthrough music.”
