As you can see from this issue of “Spirit Magazine,” the Sisters of St.Mary of Oregon have always had a love of music. They opened their first music school, St. Mary’s institute in 1893, offering music lessons to the public. When the Sisters built their current Motherhouse in the 1930s, Mother Seraphim Theissen ensured that there were music rooms built in the four-story edifice. Additionally, when the Sisters’ chapel was completed in 1936, they made sure that the stained glass window of St. Cecilia, patron saint of music, was carefully brought over and installed from their original Motherhouse.
The Sisters have ensured that every new school building built on the SSMO campus has had music classrooms so they can share their love of music with students. For Valley Catholic Elementary School music teacher Emily Pockat, teaching at a school that puts an emphasis on music education has allowed her to be innovative and creative in what she teaches students in her music room.
Through the initial days of music education at Valley Catholic, Sr. Juliana Monti, Sr. John Therse Miller, and Sr. Denise Klass built the music program into a thriving and dynamic institution. They brought in different instruments that are not normally seen in a school music program such as handbells. When Sr. Denise started teaching music full-time in the elementary school, she took over the handbell program and expanded the elementary school music curriculum while Sr. Juliana focused on the high school.
“The music program that was in place when I arrived in the fall of 2019 was incredibly expansive and had very high expectations as to what the students would be able to do, said Emily Pockat, VCES music teacher. “Sister Denise had taught the students so much, way beyond what is typically taught at each grade level.”
When Sr. Denise Klass retired from teaching music in 2019, VCS President John Matchovich asked her what was important to her in hiring a music teacher. She told him, “Find someone who is willing to keep the violin program that the Sisters started along with the handbell, choir, orchestra, and music education, and continue to provide students an option for private lessons.” The most important thing, though, for Sr. Denise was a music teacher that would still provide music for Masses and prayer services.
When Emily Pockat was hired to take over the elementary music program, she had big shoes to fill. Sr. Denise ensured that students had a comprehensive music education, so when Emily came in, she was able to go beyond the basics and teach at a more advanced level than she would have been able to do at other schools. She was able to teach them how to sing and play as a group along with teaching them different instruments such as the ukulele.
The one thing Emily had to learn was how to play the handbells as she had never played that instrument before. “Sr. Denise gave me a crash course in handbells when I arrived, and the rest I learned on the job. I quickly fell in love with handbells, it’s very different from other ensembles,” said Pockat.
Music has always been a part of Emily’s life. Her mom played the flute and the piano and her dad played a variety of instruments, including the guitar. He also played in a band and did kids’ shows. Emily herself started taking piano lessons at the age of six and started playing the violin at eight.
If you ask kids what they want to do when they grow up, they do not typically give you a straight answer, but for Emily, she knew that she wanted to be a music teacher since she was twelve. As a music teacher, she has ensured that music is fun for students and they have a safe space to try new things and make mistakes.
One way Emily shows the students that music is a space to try new things is with the annual VCES grades 1-3 holiday concert, she has created original plays such as “The Christmas Mailbox” and a retelling of what Jesus’ birth would look like if he was born in 2024.
“Emily has created performances that resonate with our students but are also true to our Catholic identity. Take for example, the Christmas performance last year where she included an Amazon delivery guy to deliver gifts to baby Jesus, in addition to the three wise men,” said Dr. Yvonne Ayesiga, VCES Principal.
In ensuring that music remains fun for students, Emily will let the Marian Singers (the VCES Choir) help her choose songs that they want to perform at the annual spring concert but with a couple of caveats. They have to be school appropriate and they cannot be love songs or songs about breakups. This usually results in an eclectic mix of 80s pop songs, current pop songs, and musical theatre songs.
“My favorite spring performance was having the 5th graders sing ‘Alexander Hamilton’ last year. The 5th graders really loved that song, and they did such a great job not just singing and rapping wonderfully, but they really put the emotion into it, using all the different aspects of expression that we have learned and practiced through the years,” said Pockat.
Another way Emily crosses the divide between the younger and older grades is during the annual VCES grades 4-5 winter performance and spring ensemble where students as young as 1st grade are allowed to participate in the orchestra ensemble.
“There is so much to learn about playing in an ensemble. It’s important for students to be exposed to that early. The older students are excellent mentors and examples for the younger students to look up to,” said Pockat. “The older students are so great at helping the younger students learn how rehearsals are run, and all of the details I forgot. For example, 6 year olds might not know how to find a specific measure number to start at, or various music symbols or words in the music.”
Emily’s innovative performances have garnered attention by her fellow teachers. Every year at the end of the school year, VCES teachers vote for a staff member that has embodied the SSMO spirit and Emily received the award at last year’s end of the school year prayer service and celebration.
“I will never forget the time I was asked to sub in our first-grade music class for Emily. After class, I told Ms. Smith to please never ask me again to sub for Emily. What she does seems fun and enjoyable, but takes an incredible amount of patience and skill,” said Dr. Ayesiga.
“Emily has done a remarkable job with the VCES music program, she has continued the programs and made it her own with her gifts and creative abilities,” said Sr. Denise Klass. “I have been blessed to have Emily continue the love of music in liturgies and music education at VCES.”
