The Inman Elementary Eagles soar under the direction of music teacher Patricia Banks.
“Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember,” said Banks. “My parents say that when I was 3 years old, I would play the hymns on our piano when we got home on Sunday afternoons.”
By age 7 she was in lessons and found that it was her calling, especially playing piano. It was around that time that she started telling her parents should would become a music teacher some day.
“Music was a part of my every day life. It’s what I did best, therefore becoming my passion.”
Nearly 31 years later, she is still living out her passion every day. She was the first music teacher at Kedron Elementary, and this is now her 9th year at Inman.
“It’s always fun to see a child finding their niche, especially when it comes to music,” said Banks. “They may be the quietest child in the room or they may be the craziest child in the room, but there’s always something that appeals to them as far as music is concerned.”
Along with regular music classes, she also leads the Eagle Ensemble in producing two musicals a year. It is a long journey to staging that includes hours of practice and Banks on hands and knees building sets.
The process is worth the final product when it all comes together on opening night.
“It’s always a great moment to finally see it on stage,” she said. “It’s really a full-circle moment to be able to pull together that production.”
Banks believes in the power of the universal language of music, and she feels called to share that with her community.
“In teaching music, I know that not all students are going to go on to master an instrument or sing professionally. They may never play in a school band or orchestra,” she said. “If I have helped all students develop a lifelong appreciation for all kinds of music, then I’ve done my job and accomplished my goals as a teacher.”
“The Honor Role,” an official podcast for Fayette County Public Schools, features employees, rotating through key stakeholders, including teachers, staff, nurses, custodians, cafeteria workers, and bus drivers. Join us as we dive in and learn about their journeys, their inspirations, and their whys.
Episodes are available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and promoted on the social media channels of Fayette County Public Schools.
Episodes will also be available here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2200811.
