Putting positive, uplifting poems and creative writings by students to music, Randy Beard performed songs about friendship and kindness Monday at Horace May Elementary School.
The singer/songwriter and former teacher from Newburgh, Ind., is visiting several elementary schools in Bemidji this week as part of Kindness Week.
"I'm visiting schools, taking music and putting it to the writings of students," Beard said.
Besides Horace May, Beard will visit J.W. Smith, Lincoln and Northern Elementary schools throughout the week. He will also present a community concert from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Bemidji High School Auditorium.
He noted that he hopes students will discover a love for writing and reading through his visits this week, as well as grow in respect for others.
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"The message is, 'Let's try to treat each other with respect,'" said Beard, who returns to Bemidji after a visit to Northern Elementary School last winter.
On Monday, Beard met with students by grade level. At the end of the day, he gave a performance for the entire school.
During a session with the school's fourth-graders earlier in the afternoon, Beard invited the students to share the writings they had prepared beforehand. With a guitar in hand, he put their words to music on the spot and encouraged the students to chime in during the songs, including fourth-grader Kevin Schorn's "Friendship is like a sunshiny day."
Switching to a blues tune, Beard next sang fourth-grader Richard Cobble's words: "Friends are helpful, they share their stuff, amazing people you can trust. Can you really have enough, can you really have enough friends?"
With fourth-grader Noah Kovach's piece, titled "Always Be Kind," Beard changed the tempo to a '50s and '60s style.
"Being nice helps you find friends that will be with you forever," Beard sang as Noah held up his paper for him to read. "If you respect others, they will respect you."
The students' words struck a chord with Beard's message.
Sometimes it's difficult to always be kind, he told the fourth-graders Monday afternoon. But, he added, one person building up another shows strength.
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"It does go a long way when you treat people with respect," Beard said.
