Mr. Smalls is making a big impact on his music students

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Albert Einstein once said, "If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician."

There is a link between music and math, poetry, and other subjects. The question is how do you teach music to students during the pandemic?

Spring Run Elementary music teacher Aubrey Smalls found an answer.

Logging onto his Twitter account, you’ll find lessons on music, singing, and how to build DIY instruments.

"Something they can do at home," he said. "You don't really have to have anything. Just use your cups. Whatever you have in your cabinet."

His dad played the trumpet and passed down a love of music.

Smalls started playing the saxophone at the age of six.

Now he’s teaching students to build their own instruments using water-filled glasses or straws.

"Sometimes you don't really know how much of an impact it's having until later, where they come and ask you about something. Or they say Mr. Smalls, ‘I got this, my ukulele and I've been teaching myself how to play it.’ So, it makes you smile when you see that happening."

Mr. Smalls seems to have found just the right note for his students… and that’s Building Better Minds.