Moscow music teacher takes one final bow
Mar. 27—A retiring Moscow Middle School music teacher who helped cultivate a local passion for orchestra is planning to end her career on a high note.
Janet McIntosh is hoping her former students will join her current students to perform a final concert May 7 at the Moscow High School auditorium. She is retiring at the end of this semester and is putting out an open invitation to former pupils who want to play for her one last time.
There's an abundance of musicians who learned the craft from McIntosh, who has been teaching music in the district for a decade. She was a paraprofessional at McDonald Elementary for 17 years before that.
McIntosh said she loves teaching music to middle school students because they all have their own quirks, personalities and talents.
"The kids are the best," she said. "They're what keep you going sometimes."
She said the key for her as a teacher is not taking herself too seriously and letting the students be themselves.
Some of those students started learning from her even earlier. Shortly after McIntosh started teaching music at the middle school, she created an after-school orchestra program for elementary students so they could develop an interest in music before coming to Moscow Middle School.
As a result, Moscow High gets to reap the benefits of all those freshmen who have spent as many as five years learning from McIntosh.
"I get this influx of kids every year who love orchestra," said MHS orchestra teacher Leah Dahl. "It's their favorite class, and that's just wonderful for me."
McIntosh's former students say it's going to be difficult to replace her.
"I would not be where I am without how she taught middle school orchestra," said MHS senior Sophia Kayler, who plans to study music at the University of Oregon.
Kayler said McIntosh knew how to make orchestra fun, was encouraging and understood each student's strengths and limitations. She said McIntosh "laid us all a solid foundation," which is why it will be sad to see her retire.
"It's going to be a huge loss for our orchestra community, but I am happy for her," Kayler said. "I think she deserves this time off."
Saskia Hohenlohe, a freshman violin player, said McIntosh was skilled at helping both the beginning musicians, and the more advanced students.
She called McIntosh "infinitely patient," and said the teacher could play multiple instruments. Hohenlohe said she is grateful that her little brother is being taught by McIntosh.
Kieran Hillyer-McVey, an MHS senior who plays violin, said he is impressed with how the middle school students in McIntosh's class are always coordinated and attentive.
"I think she's really good at motivating us," he said.
McIntosh even figured out how her students could perform at a time when concerts were not allowed. During the first year of COVID-19, she organized a "porch concert" where all the students played "Ode To Joy" at the same time in front of their respective homes. The district gathered all the photos and videos the parents took of that "concert" and edited them together in a video for the families to watch.
McIntosh said she is retiring because she wants to spend more time with her grandchildren. But it will be difficult for her to say goodbye to her students and the district.
"It's going to be hard to leave," she said.
McIntosh said those former students who are interested in playing in the May concert can contact Moscow Middle School for more information.
Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.
