Choir Teacher Inspires Joy With Viral Slang Song

Quick Smiles:

• Choir teacher celebrates students’ slang with a catchy classroom song.
• Viral TikTok performance spreads fun and inclusivity online.
• Choir lessons build confidence and camaraderie among middle schoolers.

In a Michigan middle school, choir teacher Taryn Gontjes decided to embrace her students’ love of slang by inviting them to create a song inspired by the latest phrases—turning potential distraction into musical magic.

“Some teachers get frustrated by slang,” Gontjes shared. “That’s not a battle I want to fight, so I might as well use it to my advantage. Let’s just embrace it and make it funny.”

The result was a playful warm-up set to the tune of “Sarasponda,” filled with trendy words like “67,” “Skibidi Ohio,” and “Slay.”

Gontjes posted their performance on TikTok, and the video quickly racked up millions of views, with delighted viewers praising the song’s catchiness and charm.

She explained that collaborating on the song allowed students to sing authentically and get excited about choir.

“I can use a song like this as a vehicle to work on vowel shapes or sing in the right register,” she noted. “They learn these concepts in a silly way, but I’ll translate that into a piece of music we’re already working on. At that point, they’re invested and ready to learn.”

Gontjes believes choir welcomes everyone, whether they’re seasoned singers or nervous newcomers, creating a space where all voices unite.

“So many types of kids walk into my classroom, with various interests and passions, and it’s fun to bring them together,” she said. “Choir can be a lot scarier than playing an instrument — not all, but most violins and trumpets sound the same — but voices are all so different.”

She treasures teaching the same group for three years, watching confidence and camaraderie grow.

“It doesn’t matter if kids are the best singers — they show up because they know they’re going to be loved,” Gontjes said.

Beyond viral slang songs, Gontjes’ class puts a creative twist on pop hits and movie moments, singing mash-ups and tributes to artists like Taylor Swift, Backstreet Boys, and Lady Gaga, and even performing spoken snippets from favorite films.

The classroom tradition of “Friday Blues” gives students a supportive space to express their feelings while Gontjes accompanies them on piano, turning collective challenges into connection and laughter.

“Sometimes kids will say, ‘I don’t like singing, but I love choir,’” Gontjes observed. “It’s an environment that makes them feel comfortable.”

Every day, music and kindness are at the heart of this choir, helping students shine together.

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