Mr Reidling’s Classroom: Haven of Encouragement for WGHS Chorus Students

Stepping into Mr Reidling’s classroom at WGHS, where encouragement and inspiration are the keys to successfully learning every student’s musical potential.
by Rylee Watson and Talia Banks

In the heart of Walnut Grove High School, Mr. Reidling’s chorus classroom buzzes with energy and creativity. He is known for his unique personality which shines through in his everyday class. Mr. Reidling has a knack for transforming people who are seen as the shyest or who “can’t sing” into confident performers. Mr. Reidling believes, “[his] job is to take [students] from nothing to where you want to be, and as long as you're willing and you're open to learning and trying new things, then I'm always here encouraging you every step of the way. And if you ask any of my students who start for the first time, I always try to be super encouraging and positive about their first step. It may not be perfect, it may not be the strides that they want to take, but I'm there supporting them, even if it's just little gains throughout their journey.”

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His classroom is a mix of personalized encouragement, new musical techniques, and a bit of chaos to ensure every student feels like a star. A variety of students describe Mr. Reidling as energetic, funny, outgoing, and motivational. Molly Damian expresses her gratitude for the class and the support from Mr. Reidling, “He 100% supports us because he is always there when you need him.”

Molly also expressed her desire to join chorus because she, “...loves singing and it is just one of my passions” she continues, “[chorus]  gave me something to do, like a club to join, so I would say for the new students joining that you should join because it's super fun. ”

Another student from Mr. Reidling’s class is Gabbi Charles, a freshman who joined this year. Gabbi’s journey in the chorus class has gotten stronger overtime, mostly because of the support and encouragement shared from Mr. Reidling. One thing Gabbi struggled with at the beginning was, “I'm loud and I sing a lot, so instead of just singing randomly, I could sing in class and get it all out, but not being the best singer or knowing some people are like stronger singers than you, and you can feel like you’re bringing them down, but you're not.”

Plus, Gabbi expresses how being a part of chorus and always participating in events has helped her personally, “Chorus impacts my life because it's a good learning experience, and it's a hobby that I like doing. Something that I would like to say to people who want to do chorus is don't be scared and even if you're a new singer, you can still join because I know a lot of shy singers that are in chorus and they've gotten much better.” 

Another student, Landen Ingram, enjoyed the class his first semester of this year. One challenge Landen discovered was, “...trying to hit the notes and all be on key at the same time,” but Landen was able to shape his singing ability by “just practicing a lot and calming [himself] down to get in the right mindset.” He adds, “[Mr. Reidling] just kinda lets us chill, he's not strict or anything. He just lets us learn freely. He always gives us advice and just pushes us to do better.”

For Alivia Joiner, another WG student, she was placed into the class her freshman year. She shares how she wasn’t very confident in singing, but decided to give it a shot. Alivia described what was difficult for her being in chorus for her first time, “I mean, as someone that's never sung before, probably just singing in front of people for the first time.” She continues, “Chorus has impacted my life, it has given me a new hobby, and I enjoy being in the class. For the new people who are joining, I would just encourage you to try it at least once.”

On the other hand, Haily Wren has been involved in chorus since elementary school, she shares how it is a different experience, “[Mr Reidling] doesn't just teach and make it boring, he keeps us interested and he never doubts us. He always makes sure that we feel good about ourselves even if we mess up.” Chorus has allowed Haily to,“...meet new people and gain more confidence. To the new people joining I would say that it could be embarrassing at first but then it gets fun.”

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Mr. Reidling’s journey to becoming a chorus teacher all started at the age of twelve, “This is my fourth year here at Walnut Grove, my fifth year as a teacher, and I've been doing church music and stuff since I was 18 years, actually since I was 12, but I've just been involved in choir and music and stuff for most of my life.”
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He is both a great inspiration to many of his students and has a lifelong passion for music. Growing up, he was surrounded by music; it wasn't long before he found his own love for the musical community.

Throughout his own school years, Mr. Reidling started off in band, but soon got scooped up to join chorus for his school. Mr. Reidling shares the story behind it all, “When I came into high school, I auditioned for a musical. My girlfriend at the time, who is now my wife, she was in chorus and she wanted me to audition for the musical and then the next day, my choir teacher walked in from East Jackson [high school] and told me I was in chorus now. And so I split my time between band and chorus. And then I fell in love, so 10th grade through 12th grade I decided to make chorus my thing.”
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After his high school days flew by, Mr. Reidling wanted to pursue a degree in music education, where he further grew his talent and passion to share his love of music with others. Mr. Reidling started teaching at an elementary school for music during COVID, but when a spot opened at WGHS he got the interview, then the job. In the classroom, his teaching style is both nurturing and dynamic. He is able to create an extremely supportive and comfortable environment where all his students are able to take risks and express themselves.  

As Mr. Reidling continues to inspire his students, the impact of his classroom is evident in the growth and achievements of all his students. Throughout his dedication and enthusiasm, Mr. Reidling has become a beloved figure in the Walnut Grove community, always motivating the students and gaining their interest in music. His commitment to excellence and passion for teaching, Mr. Reidling ensures a positive, lifelong academic experience for all students interested in chorus, visit room E538 if you want to join in on the fun.