The joyous sounds of children singing often echo in the narrow hallway of Manson Park School in Pittsfield.

Trace the lively rendition of “Jumping in my Jammies” or the quieter tune “Sleeping on the Farm,” which answers the question “How does a cow go to sleep?” and the source of the sweet sounds will likely be the first-grade class of Aaron McCannell.

When the children sing “Five Senses,” they are learning just how their senses are used to perceive the world they live in. When they sing “Five Monkeys,” they are just plain having fun.

This isn’t music class.

It’s an average day in McCannell’s classroom. The guitar hanging from the center of the blackboard isn’t a prop – it’s one of the young teacher’s most important tools.

A prolific songwriter, McCannell has put 46 books to music along with his original compositions, incorporating lessons along the way. He recently recorded his first CD of classroom songs, a CD that was intended as a demo recording but now is being requested by teachers across Maine.

McCannell sees music as an intrinsic, powerful tool in the classroom. Many fourth-graders may not remember their times tables, but know by heart the lyrics of a dozen popular songs. One of the first children learn is the “ABC” song.

San Diego-based music therapist Michelle Lazar works with children with autism and other developmental difficulties.

“Music is often an integral part of the preschool and kindergarten child’s school experience,” she writes on her Web site. “But what happens in first grade and beyond? The increased focus on academic curriculum standards often makes it more challenging to integrate music into classroom lessons.

“Luckily, with a little creative planning, music can actually serve as the method to teach,” she continues. “In this context, music is viewed as a multisensory approach to enhance learning and retention of academic skills. In addition, educational research confirms that we learn and retain information when we find it interesting and meaningful.”

“Songs are such learning aids,” McCannell reflected recently, sitting on one of the tiny chairs in his neat, colorful classroom. “One song, called ‘The More You Know,’ teaches a love of learning and the importance of learning. ‘Knowledge is power,’ the song says. ‘The more you know, the more you’ll be.'”

Another song, called “Trouble Chair,” is the story of a boy who was constantly in trouble but he changes his ways and becomes the student of the month.

McCannell’s love of both music and education is not surprising. His mother, Louise, is a literacy specialist in SAD 53. His father, Terrence, was a former teaching principal and superintendent. Although his two younger brothers are still in college, they are both considering education careers.

McCannell studied at Kent State University but left “because I didn’t feel I was going in the right direction.” He took a job as an educational technician in the Waterville school system and fell in love with teaching. After spending three years in the same classroom, he reluctantly left to finish his education at the University of Maine at Farmington.

“I love this age,” he said of his first-graders. “It is very easy to observe the learning process and see the difference. When they come in the door, they can hardly write at all, and quickly they are writing sentences. Their minds are built to learn.”

So when McCannell began introducing music into the learning mix, he knew he had a hit. “They think I’m a rock star,” he said laughing.

Along with growing up in an educational family, he also grew up in a musical household. “My dad played a lot in high school and college. He had gigs every weekend and did quite well. I have very fond memories of family camping trips where dad would be playing around the campfire and mom would be singing.”

McCannell said bringing the music into the classroom is a natural move. “I began incorporating it into my behavior program,” he said. “I bargain with the kids – stay on task and if there is time leftover, we can enjoy music.” He said a program he uses, called Preferred Activity Time – when children get to choose an enrichment activity – has become Pick A Tune in his classroom.

When he puts a book to music, McCannell said the entire experience changes for his students.

“It is totally different for them to sing it or hear it sung than just read it,” he said.

McCannell also has challenged his students to cooperatively write a story, which he puts to music. “That opens the door to talking about poetry and rhyming,” he said.

When he created his CD, McCannell said it was originally intended as a prize for his classroom students. But he quickly had to meet the demand of other elementary school teachers for the songs. “There are about 200 out there now,” he said the mountains of research that show a direct link between music and better math and science understanding.

But his greatest reward, McCannell said, comes from his students.

“I got a Valentine from one of the children that said, ‘You’re a rock star’ but I think I’ve got it better than that,” he said. “I have an audience every day. I play for them to learn, to give them exposure, but in their eyes, it is as real as any other music. I’m the biggest star I can be two to three times a day.”

Sharon Kiley Mack can be reached at 487-3187 or bangordaily@downeast.net.