Kristen Rodhe’s musical career began in her living room at age five, after appropriating her baby sister’s Fisher Price toy marching band set.

“I was obsessed with The Ohio State University marching band. My younger sister, Keri, was given a toy music set with a little hat and marching drum,” Rodhe recalled. “I was really jealous. I put them on, played the Buckeyes marching band music, and marched around the house. My mom said I would have done that all day if she would have let me.”

Now Rodhe puts musical tools in the hands of her vocal students at West Holmes, where she teaches grades seven-12. She said she never doubted that she would pursue a career in music.

“There was nothing else as interesting that I wanted to spend all day doing,” Rodhe said.

Rodhe attended Capital University for their smaller classes and fabulous music program. Upon graduation, she spent a challenging year teaching in a Columbus-area middle school before hearing about the opening at West Holmes.

“I knew I wanted to come back to this area eventually, but I didn’t think it would happen right away. The position opened, and I decided to apply and see what would happen.”

What happened was that Rodhe was given the job and began developing a thriving music program, which includes music history, music theory, and drama.

“When I started here three years ago, I had 40 middle-school students. Now I have 75,” said Rodhe. “The program is definitely building all the way through, which is really exciting.”

One reason for the success of the program is that Rodhe works hard to make it both educational and enjoyable, which can be a challenge when trying to find music of value that teens want to sing.

“I think that’s the hardest part, getting a good mix of what I can teach and want to do for eight weeks. I could put pop songs in front of them all the time and they would be happy,” Rodhe explained, “but the arrangements and versions aren’t always the best, or they’re not learning anything from those songs.”

So Rodhe includes in her program some pop songs, like one of the concert choir’s favorites, radio hit Hey, Soul Sister, and mixes in others with more musical value, like her current favorite, a medley the chamber choir is working on for their spring performance May 17, from the Broadway musical Les Miserables.

Rodhe’s students agree that she makes the program fun and exciting. Annie and Alexandra Jaeb, sisters from Millersburg, credit her for instilling in them a greater love of music.

“She’s professional and efficient, which is difficult when there are 50 or more teenagers involved,” shared Annie Jaeb, now a freshman at The College of Wooster. “It’s obvious that she loves what she does as much as her students love her. Being in college now, I miss chamber choir and theater with Miss Rodhe more than any other aspect of high school.”

Alexandra Jaeb was a sophomore when “Miss Rodhizzle,” as she affectionately calls her, became the choir director.

“At first I wasn’t sure about that woman, with her fancy musical terms and sight-reading exercises,” Alexandra Jaeb joked, “but eventually, I discovered that she has a lot of knowledge and experience to share, plus a little bit of a goofy side.”

Growing with her students is one aspect of Rodhe’s job that she appreciates. She is the only vocal music and drama teacher in her grade levels at West Holmes.

“I like that I have the potential to teach them from grade seven all the way through, which is really unique. Most of the time, teachers have their students for a year and might not have them again. This allows me to get to know them, to build this really cool relationship with them as they progress.”

One such student is Todd St. John, a junior at West Holmes.

“Todd wasn’t in choir,” said Rodhe,” but I knew he played piano and encouraged him to play a little for the choir and maybe give singing a try. Now he’s been in the program for two years and plans to try out for chamber choir.”

St. John said Rodhe’s encouragement helped him to grow as a vocalist.

“When I was younger, I didn’t like my singing voice, but the fact that she offered to let me play piano changed my mind. Now my range has expanded and I can do things vocally that I couldn’t do before.”

Rodhe’s teaching example has inspired St. John to pursue a career in music education. He encourages students to give the program a try.

“Choir is an easy way to find something in common with others, because everyone likes to sing or hum. Even if you don’t read music or have music in your background, if you’re interested and willing to put the work into it, you should go for it.”

Rodhe’s teaching philosophy shines through students like St. John and the Jaebs. Her goal is to develop a positive relationship with each one, and, through that relationship, make the best music possible.

It seems to be working.

“I’ve been with her through all the drama of the musical,” said Alexandra Jaeb, “through our interesting music history classes, and through the craziness of chamber choir and the a cappella choir she started two years ago.”

But it’s the relationship that has grown from her experiences with Kristen Rodhe that matters to Jaeb the most.

“Miss Rodhe is more than just my choir director and teacher,” said Jaeb. “She is my friend.”

And that’s probably the best compliment a teacher can earn.