Wheaton College Alumni Magazine Winter 2013 | Page 44

alumni news

profile
a new language, and perhaps to give voice
to feelings they might not have articulated
otherwise through songs such as, “Hard
Times,” or “We Will,” a song of hope written
to commemorate 9/11.
Scott came to Krejci Academy after
teaching in an inner-city school where many
of the children had behavioral problems.
“It was a real baptism by fire,” he says.
But looking back, he realizes that the job
prepared him for where he is now. “After a
week of teaching here, I realized that I had
never before in my life felt so positive about
anything being God’s will for me.”

a song of the heart
by Katherine Halberstadt Anderson ’90

brick buildings grouped pleasantly under
wide canopies of mature trees.

“One of the things I tell other music teachers
is something I learned at Wheaton College
from Dr. Curtis Funk, who told us to always
go from the known to the unknown.” Scott
recommends precisely sequencing lesson
plans, so that progress builds slowly but
surely, boosting confidence.

For the last 21 years, Scott Iseminger ’90
has considered it his job, as general music
teacher and choir director, to set up each
of these students for success. Those who
can, sing. Those who can’t, sway to the
music or play instruments. Those with
advanced skills take noticeable pride in
performing on the school Drum Team.

Another lesson he relearns on a regular
basis: never underestimate your students.
One of the girls in his choir concert this
year didn’t speak for two years. She began
singing this year in music class. He thought,
There’s no way she’ll learn all eight songs.
But she sang portions of every song. “She
rose to the challenge,” he says triumphantly.

Says Scott, “When we get a new child
from the public schools and I introduce
myself to them, 95 percent of the time,
their first words to me are, ‘I hate music.’”
At this year-end concert, however,
it’s evident that these students have
learned more than notes, rhythms, and
melodies—they’ve learned to appreciate

More than 20 years ago, Scott remembers
writing a paper in his senior year at Wheaton
about his own philosophy of education. His
paper began, “Every child is capable of
learning music.” His work has proven that,
with the right teacher, every child is also
capable of loving music—and sometimes,
a love for music changes lives.

Inspired by his students, this alumnus
has developed classroom techniques
to help every child succeed.
To the casual observer,
it might look a bit like a spring concert at
any private school. The students stand
in rows on risers, wearing red vests
atop white shirts. They sing a selection
of eight songs ranging from classic jazz
by Duke Ellington to an Irish immigrant
work song.
But this isn’t any school, and these aren’t
just any students. This is Krejci Academy,
an alternative day school serving children
and adolescents (K-12th grade) with autism
and other developmental disabilities.
At young ages, these children have
tasted failure. All of them have been
unable to function at other schools.
That’s why they are here in Naperville,
Illinois, on this campus, with its yellow
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Over the years, Scott has become a soughtafter speaker at teaching workshops, and
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annually presents at the Illinois Music
Educators Association. He’s written articles
for the National Association for Music
Education, and has an upcoming article
written for music teachers addressing
students with severe developmental
disabilities.