Danielsville teacher shares her love of American Indian music, culture

Gently swaying to a distinctive beat as she connected with students during a recent class at Danielsville Elementary School, Karen Cosgrove shares her knowledge of American Indian song through chants, dance and drums.

A technology specialist who has been at the school for more than 16 years, she often is called to present a program on American Indian songs, not only to local school children but to Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, church youth groups and kids at the county library.

"I'm not trying to be Native American, I'm just sharing their message," Cosgrove explained. "Kids don't care if you're a professional - it's about singing from your heart."

Mesmerized by the sounds and sights of the beautiful and unusual instruments Cosgrove has acquired over the years, the children sat attentively, then responded with excitement at the chance to play one of the hoop drums or noisemakers.

"I have more than 50 songs that I like to share," Cosgrove said. "The age group has a lot to do with it. Sometimes it's the time of year. I just intuitively decide. ... I tend to use songs with (English) words that they can understand."

While she has no known Indian ancestry herself, Cosgrove has embraced a culture that she finds intriguing and greatly admires.

"I just enjoy spreading the message. ... We need to be grateful for what we have, for life and this beautiful planet that we live on," she said.

Working early in her career with first-graders at Washington Elementary, a magnet school for gifted students in Raleigh, N.C., Cosgrove was moved by witnessing a demonstration from a Cherokee and Creek Indian descendant known as White Eagle.

"I told him I was interested in what he was doing with the children," Cosgrove said. "He invited me to help him with a couple of programs. That's how it started."

Returning to Madison County in 1994, she started work at Danielsville Elementary School as a paraprofessional in special education and kindergarten, and later transitioned to her current position.

During a recent class at the school, Cosgrove shared a few of the American Indian songs she had learned from White Eagle with the children. The program has become an annual faculty request.

"The children loved it so much, they began making up additional verses to the songs," Cosgrove said. "I realized that maybe it was something that was worthy of sharing."

Attending a drumming circle in Jackson County, Cosgrove said she came to a deeper understanding of the songs she had learned.

"Like I tell the children, some of the songs I share with them are in native tongue. I might not be able to spe

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Danielsville teacher shares her love of American Indian music, culture
Gently swaying to a distinctive beat as she connected with students during a recent class at Danielsville Elementary School, Karen Cosgrove shares her knowledge of American Indian song through chants, dance and drums.