The Secret Song

For over four decades, Doug Goodkin nurtured the innate musicality in children as a pre-k through 8th grade music teacher in San Francisco. Dropping in on what would turn out to be a tumultuous final year of teaching, "The Secret Song" gives an intimate view into Goodkin's teaching approach, the vibrant impact it has on students and alumni, and the value of musical improvisation in navigating real-world challenges. A lifelong musician, Goodkin "loved learning, but hated school." He seeks to teach children differently than the traditional lessons he was raised with. After a chance exposure with an alternative approach to music education in college, Goodkin would devote his life to teaching music in an accessible and enjoyable way. Goodkin's time-tested methods are thrown into disarray as the COVID-19 pandemic forces the school into remote learning three months before Goodkin's planned retirement. A program which once prioritized group-learning, movement, dance, and instilling music "through the ear, not through the eye" has to adapt to an online format. Goodkin's close colleagues and friends, James Harding and Sofia Lopez-Ibor, who will take over the music program in his wake, share his heartbreak at the possibility he will not get a proper send off. Early in the film, viewers see children's eyes light up as simple rhymes and clapping patterns evolve into complex jazz pieces within a single class. Students find outlets for expression through unique ceremonies and rituals. Viewers experience the power of group sing-alongs to foster deep connections and joy. Students' confidence grows through exploration of musical ideas through movement, games, and improvisation, culminating in a captivating student-led performance that spans a vast musical spectrum. These successes seem to be put on hold amidst the COVID crisis, and yet viewers witness how Goodkin's commitment to music education continues to help the teachers and students find community, even in isolation. The audience is immersed in a world with music at its core, revealing the depth and reach of one person's gifts, and the importance of arts and music in our lives.