Giant musical notes adorn Colleen Schulze's classroom and riddles with musical answers hang from the walls.

After nearly 20 years as Philomath Elementary School's music teacher, Schulze has many a children's choir concert and Christmas play in her past - and she wouldn't change a minute of it.

"My favorite part is the students and their input," she said. "It is just really rewarding and a lot of fun. They have a lot of really good ideas, and sometimes they're just plain funny. It's such a cool thing."

Her inspirational teaching style has made her a favorite with her students. She recently was recognized by the City of Philomath, which awarded her the Community Spirit Award in December. The honor both surprised and embarrassed Schulze, who sees her involvement with music as natural.

That makes sense, considering music has surrounded Schulze since early childhood. Her father and sisters both were musicians, and she began trying to play piano by ear almost as soon as she could reach the keys.

When Schulze was in the first grade, her parents signed her up for piano lessons, and although she has picked up several other instruments during her lifetime, piano and voice are still her two favorite ways of making music.

She and her older sisters all went to Oregon State University, where she pursued a degree in education. But music remained her primary interest. She decided to become a music teacher.

"I'm an elementary education major with a minor in music," Schulze said. "There are not many like me around."

Her experience as a student teacher exposed her to the differences between classroom teachers - who spend their days with the same students all day long - and music teachers, who see different children for shorter periods each day.

"They have a lot of work, those classroom teachers do," Schulze said. That realization early on has always informed how she does her own work, by respecting the time crunches and other stresses that classroom teachers face.

"If I want to get kids together to practice I always inform teachers ahead of time," she said, "because last-minute things are not appreciated."

Her first position after graduation was as the music teacher at Wilson Elementary. Schulze worked there for six years before setting aside teaching for 14 years to raise her three children. When she came back to work in 1990, she accepted a job at Philomath Elementary School, where she's been ever since.

The most important part of her job, Schulze said, is getting kids involved in practicing music, not just learning about it. That's why her classroom is filled with musical instruments.

"As music teachers, we can get so hung up teaching theory and composing that they're learning more about music than making it."

Music, she said, doesn't really have meaning unless you move to it, dance to it or play it. And it's also a great way for students to feel worthy and accomplished.

"You don't have to be an excellent academic student to be an excellent musician," she said. And it's open to everyone. "You all make the team. Every person is a part of it."

Schulze's husband is a teacher, as are her two oldest children. Her youngest is entering graduate school, but will soon be on the same path. Schulze is glad she became a teacher, and even more happy that she's bringing music to the lives of so many children.

"I think I really believe in the power of music," Schulze said. "Whether or not they remember what a whole note is, I just want them to feel the joy, because it's such an important part of your life."

AT A GLANCE

Who: Colleen Schulze

What: Music teacher, Philomath Elementary School

Family: Husband Rob, children Christopher, 31, Molly, 28, and Timothy, 26

Recent honors: Philomath Community Spirit Award