Mister Cooper Connection Articles


Reprinted from "The Connection" Volume 4, Number 17 - May 1, 2003 Learning phonics, math and history through music by Jemileen U. Nuqui - editor Making a difference, one song at a time would best describe Ken Cooper's teaching style. A professional musician, he uses his voice and guitar to sing and compose tunes that teach. His theme songs - chosen to suit the lessons being discussed in each grade level - range from phonics and math to historical events such as the California Gold Rush and the Civil War. His involvement in education started when he was asked to volunteer in his son's kindergarten class eight years ago. Today, he teaches his Kindergarten Sing program at Sutterville, John Cabrillo and Bret Harte elementary schools. Cooper explained that the Kindergarten Sing program reinforces reading and counting competence, social skills and provides an opportunity for youngsters to learn music appreciation. "It all started at Sutterville, where the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) decided to hire me to teach the program," he said. "Then, it was just word of mouth. More parents learned about my work and encouraged their PTAs to hire me." Cooper also conducts music-related programs for fourth and fifth grade classes in Sutterville. He selects songs that depict the topics discussed in their Open Court curriculum. For example, a lesson on the California Gold Rush would include songs such as *We Are All A-Pannin* and *Sacramento. But he does not just teach music, he shares information on each song's historical background and characters during that period. Another program, Going West - Songs of the 1800's, relates to the Going West unit in Open Court reading anthology. Themes of overcoming challenges, motivation, impact on the land and different cultures are reinforced in the lyrics of the songs he chose. He is currently working on ten environment-related songs for the sixth grade Open Court unit Ecology. "I make sure that anything I bring into the classroom augments what students are learning in class," Cooper said. "I collaborate with the teachers to make sure we're on the same page." Outside of conducting his programs, Cooper is a substitute teacher at Sutterville. He has taught kindergarten through sixth grade. "I thought about becoming a regular teacher, but I like what I'm doing - being able to bring music to a lot of kids," he said. "Maybe I'll pursue that later." While Cooper now enjoys teaching, education was never a field he thought he would join. "I never really saw myself as a teacher," he said. "I'm a musician. But these days, when I see the kids' faces light up when I enter a room, it's just a wonderful feeling. Kids are the best audience." He is grateful for the continued support he receives from parents, teachers and school administrators. "I have been working with great people," he said. "With limited school budget, it is unfortunate that arts and music get cut. But with programs like these, we can at least bring some music into the classrooms." Cooper was a computer science graduate, but he was very passionate about music and followed that direction. He moved from Albany, NY to Los Angeles, CA where he worked as a musician - writing songs and playing in many bands. He and his wife moved to Sacramento in 1992 after their son was born. "We were watching the news and it showed schools in L.A. were installing metal detectors; that's when we decided it was time to go," he said. Cooper now performs in a band called the Loose Acoustic Trio. The group plays bluegrass, country and old folk songs. They perform at local clubs, schools, fairs and festivals. Those interested in Cooper's programs can call (916) 736-9416 or e-mail Contact for more information. Sidebar: Aside from the regular programs he teaches, Ken Cooper partners with local poet John Allen Cann to organize the Poetry and Song Project for schools. It allows students to explore the relationship of music to poetry. Cooper and Cann choose two artists, a musician and a poet, for the project assignment. One program teams up American poet Walt Whitman and songwriter Bob Dylan. Students read Whitman's works and listen to Dylan's music. Then they discuss similarities and differences in the poems and songs. Students, selected by teachers, also participate in a poet-led workshop. They compose their own poems from themes of an artist's work. "We hope that at the end of the program, students change the way they perceive poetry," Cooper said. "They will recognize that song lyrics are poems combined with music. They also realize that through their personal experiences, they too can create poetry and song lyrics." Reprinted from "The Connection" Volume 2, Number 12 - Feb. 15, 2001 You Can’t Go Wrong With Poetry And Song* Written by Lori Misicka (Editor of the *Sutterville Slate* newsletter) For the third consecutive year, the students of Sutterville Elementary School were treated to the magic of poetry and song through the efforts and expertise of “Poet-in-Residence” John Allen Cann and “Traveling Troubadour” Ken Cooper. Sponsored by the school’s PTA, Mr. Cann spends a week visiting each of the 20 classes at the school introducing the life and work of an American poet and using themes and models from the featured writer to set the foundation for the composition of original student poems. Then Mr. Cooper joins him for an additional 4 days of classroom visits and together they share with the students the life and songs of an eminent songwriter, discussing the relationship between lyrics and poetry, while teaching them to sing one of the artist’s famous songs. This year, they showcased Emily Dickinson and Joni Mitchell; in past years, the pairings have been Walt Whitman with Bob Dylan, and Carl Sandburg with Woody Guthrie. Next year’s subjects will be William Shakespeare and the Beatles. As much fun as the classroom visits are, students and staff alike look forward to the last day of the Poetry and Song Project when the poems that have been written and the songs that have been discussed are performed for the school population during two daytime assemblies. Then the performers get ready for that evening’s Poetry and Song Concert when they share their creations with parents and friends who eagerly listen to, learn from, and sing along with the children and teachers. This December, 48 student poets and 3 teachers shared their poems, and the halls of Sutterville rang with the sound of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” as all 250-plus participants joined together in a memorable sing along. For more information about the Poetry and Song Project, contact Ken Cooper at (916)736-9416 or Contact

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Reprinted from "The Connection" Volume 4, Number 17 - May 1, 2003

Learning phonics, math and history through music
by Jemileen U. Nuqui - editor

Making a difference, one song at a time would best describe Ken Cooper's teaching style. A professional musician, he uses his voice and guitar to sing and compose tunes that teach. His theme songs - chosen to suit the lessons being discussed in each grade level - range from phonics and math to historical events such as the California Gold Rush and the Civil War. His involvement in education started when he was asked to volunteer in his son's kindergarten class eight years ago. Today, he teaches his Kindergarten Sing program at Sutterville, John Cabrillo and Bret Harte elementary schools.

Cooper explained that the Kindergarten Sing program reinforces reading and counting competence, social skills and provides an opportunity for youngsters to learn music appreciation.

"It all started at Sutterville, where the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) decided to hire me to teach the program," he said. "Then, it was just word of mouth. More parents learned about my work and encouraged their PTAs to hire me."

Cooper also conducts music-related programs for fourth and fifth grade classes in Sutterville. He selects songs that depict the topics discussed in their Open Court curriculum. For example, a lesson on the California Gold Rush would include songs such as We Are All A-Pannin and Sacramento.

But he does not just teach music, he shares information on each song's historical background and characters during that period.

Another program, Going West - Songs of the 1800's, relates to the Going West unit in Open Court reading anthology. Themes of overcoming challenges, motivation, impact on the land and different cultures are reinforced in the lyrics of the songs he chose. He is currently working on ten environment-related songs for the sixth grade Open Court unit Ecology.

"I make sure that anything I bring into the classroom augments what students are learning in class," Cooper said. "I collaborate with the teachers to make sure we're on the same page."

Outside of conducting his programs, Cooper is a substitute teacher at Sutterville. He has taught kindergarten through sixth grade.

"I thought about becoming a regular teacher, but I like what I'm doing - being able to bring music to a lot of kids," he said. "Maybe I'll pursue that later."

While Cooper now enjoys teaching, education was never a field he thought he would join. "I never really saw myself as a teacher," he said. "I'm a musician. But these days, when I see the kids' faces light up when I enter a room, it's just a wonderful feeling. Kids are the best audience."

He is grateful for the continued support he receives from parents, teachers and school administrators. "I have been working with great people," he said. "With limited school budget, it is unfortunate that arts and music get cut. But with programs like these, we can at least bring some music into the classrooms."

Cooper was a computer science graduate, but he was very passionate about music and followed that direction. He moved from Albany, NY to Los Angeles, CA where he worked as a musician - writing songs and playing in many bands.

He and his wife moved to Sacramento in 1992 after their son was born. "We were watching the news and it showed schools in L.A. were installing metal detectors; that's when we decided it was time to go," he said.

Cooper now performs in a band called the Loose Acoustic Trio. The group plays bluegrass, country and old folk songs. They perform at local clubs, schools, fairs and festivals.

Those interested in Cooper's programs can call (916) 736-9416 or e-mail
Contact for more information.

Sidebar:

Aside from the regular programs he teaches, Ken Cooper partners with local poet John Allen Cann to organize the Poetry and Song Project for schools. It allows students to explore the relationship of music to poetry.

Cooper and Cann choose two artists, a musician and a poet, for the project assignment. One program teams up American poet Walt Whitman and songwriter Bob Dylan. Students read Whitman's works and listen to Dylan's music. Then they discuss similarities and differences in the poems and songs.

Students, selected by teachers, also participate in a poet-led workshop. They compose their own poems from themes of an artist's work.

"We hope that at the end of the program, students change the way they perceive poetry," Cooper said. "They will recognize that song lyrics are poems combined with music. They also realize that through their personal experiences, they too can create poetry and song lyrics."

Reprinted from "The Connection" Volume 2, Number 12 - Feb. 15, 2001

You Can’t Go Wrong With Poetry And Song
Written by Lori Misicka (Editor of the Sutterville Slate newsletter)

For the third consecutive year, the students of Sutterville Elementary School were treated to the magic of poetry and song through the efforts and expertise of “Poet-in-Residence” John Allen Cann and “Traveling Troubadour” Ken Cooper. Sponsored by the school’s PTA, Mr. Cann spends a week visiting each of the 20 classes at the school introducing the life and work of an American poet and using themes and models from the featured writer to set the foundation for the composition of original student poems. Then Mr. Cooper joins him for an additional 4 days of classroom visits and together they share with the students the life and songs of an eminent songwriter, discussing the relationship between lyrics and poetry, while teaching them to sing one of the artist’s famous songs. This year, they showcased Emily Dickinson and Joni Mitchell; in past years, the pairings have been Walt Whitman with Bob Dylan, and Carl Sandburg with Woody Guthrie. Next year’s subjects will be William Shakespeare and the Beatles.

As much fun as the classroom visits are, students and staff alike look forward to the last day of the Poetry and Song Project when the poems that have been written and the songs that have been discussed are performed for the school population during two daytime assemblies. Then the performers get ready for that evening’s Poetry and Song Concert when they share their creations with parents and friends who eagerly listen to, learn from, and sing along with the children and teachers. This December, 48 student poets and 3 teachers shared their poems, and the halls of Sutterville rang with the sound of Joni Mitchell’s “Big Yellow Taxi” as all 250-plus participants joined together in a memorable sing along.

For more information about the Poetry and Song Project, contact Ken
Cooper at (916)736-9416 or Contact