Abbott Elementary – Music Class

By: Atiya Irvin-Mitchell

We open with the revelation that since Ava’s (Janelle James) firing, Gregory (Tyler James Williams) has stepped in as the interim principal. He gives announcements over the intercom and learns in real time that a lot of them are out of date. Dia (Pam Trotter) explains that Ava didn’t like to do the announcements because she thought a lot of them were boring. Still, Gregory stresses to the cameras that he isn’t trying to take over, and this arrangement is only temporary. 

Speaking of Ava, she swings by the school to pick up the last of her things. Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) try to reassure her by telling her she looks great and refreshed, but Ava says she’s good. When Janine (Quinta Brunson) asks how she’s been doing, Ava explains that Abbott Elementary was never her primary source of income, and she’s been dabbling in public speaking since her well-received edtalk. 

Later in the day, Jacob (Chris Perfetti) is sitting in on Barbara’s music class partly because some of his students are in it and partly because, since the teachers work the same hours he has never had the opportunity to see her in action. Since her music class is taking place after school, he feels it’s a can’t-miss opportunity. Most of the kids thought they were going to jump into singing and playing their instruments, but Barbara is adamant that they’re going to start with the fundamentals. 

Elsewhere, Melissa goes to Gregory’s office in need of assistance: She has a kid with a newly developed allergy, and she needs to update their file. Unfortunately, for both Melissa and Gregory, Ava’s filing system is impossible to understand. Gregory explains that Ava rearranged her files recently, and previously, everything was arranged based on the hot dad scale and now they have no idea how things are organized. 

On an unrelated note, Janine hasn’t given up her hope of getting Ava reinstated. She’s been talking with the folks at the district who don’t hate her, and now she’s going to Ava’s house to give her an update. She tried calling, but Ava didn’t pick up. Upon her arrival, she expects to see Ava’s house, but really, it’s a P.O. box. But, Ava is there, and when Janine asks what gives, she explains she never would’ve given any of the Abbott staff her home address. At any rate, Janine shares that she spoke with the district, and there’s a chance of her getting Ava an appeal. However, Ava dislikes the idea of giving the powers that be the chance to reject her. Janine acknowledges that it’s not ideal, but it’s better than nothing. Ava changes the subject because she explains she needs to go practice for her Teb Talk. When Janine follows up with Ava about what a Teb Talk is she explains Teb as in Tebias Talks because Ted Talks are out. Janine is unsure of how real a Teb Talk is, but Ava says it’s at the airport lounge and it’s real. Eager to leave, Ava tells Janine to file the appeal and then drives off. 

Barbara is teaching about the difference between minor and major scales and struggling to keep her students engaged. A boy named Richie (Hero Hunter) interrupts the lesson by playing a sped-up video of Barbara stressing the importance of fundamentals that he thinks could really go viral. But Barbara isn’t impressed, she thinks what he made is a collection of noises and feels like he’s mocking her. 

In the teacher’s lounge, Barbara snaps at Jacob for humming off-key. Jacob quickly clocks that her anger might be misdirected and asks how music class is going. Barbara admits it’s going terribly and shares the story that he students took her voice and made it into something else. Jacob empathizes with her as he teaches tweens all day, and they can be tough. Barbara, for her part, doesn’t get why they’re not interested in learning the fundamentals. Jacob reassures her that she’s a great teacher, but suggests that she meet them where they are and teach the fundamentals in a way they can relate to. 

Melissa goes to check-in with Gregory about the file, but when she gets to the principal’s office he’s freaking out. He says he doesn’t have the file, and Ava’s filing system makes no sense. The grades are all mixed together and Ava won’t respond to Gregory’s messages and clear things up. Plus, he asks if the name Boston Rob means anything to Melissa because he is on multiple kids’ files. This makes Melissa realize that Ava’s system is based on the show Survivor. Melissa’s ex-husband got the show in their divorce, and Gregory doesn’t watch it, so to crack her code. 

During class, Janine gets a phone call from Manny (Josh Segarra) about her plans to appeal Ava’s firing. Manny pulled some strings and got Janine and Ava a time to plead their case, but he warns Janine that it’s a long shot. Janine just says the other cases weren’t overturned because they didn’t have Janine Teagues on the case. Still, Manny stresses that it’s going to be an uphill battle. When they hang up, Janine is eager to call Ava and share the news.

Afterschool, during Barbara’s music class, she seems to be trying to take Jacob’s advice to meet the kids where they’re at. At first, the students assume this means they’ll be allowed to play instruments and sing, but Barbara’s plan is to have the kids pick their favorite song. She tells the kids they’re going to choose their favorite songs, write what the songs make them feel, and then she wants them to research the song’s chord progressions to present to class. This leads to a class on chord progressions.’

Melissa and Gregory continue watching Survivor until they’re interrupted by Janine. She wants to know if either of them has heard from Ava, and Melissa says if they had, they wouldn’t be binge-watching Survivor. Janine doesn’t immediately know what one has to do with the other, but remembers that Ava’s Teb Talk is happening that day and tells Melissa and Gregory that they’re going to the airport. 

When it’s time for Barbara’s next class, she’s really excited to hear the songs that the kids have chosen. Unfortunately, she finds herself feeling disappointed when it becomes clear that the only person who did the homework was Jacob. When Barbara asks why, Shemar (Elijah Felder) explains that they barely want to do the homework they’re required to do for school, let alone for an extracurricular class. When the same is true for the rest of the students, Barbara declares that she’s not going to waste her time anymore and leaves Jacob in charge of the class. 

 When Janine, Melissa, and Gregory find Ava they’re all eager to talk to her about different things. Gregory really wants to ask questions about her filing system, but Janine leads with the news that they can plead her case to have her reinstated. Janine says they have to start preparing immediately, but Ava says she can’t do that right now because she’s literally in the middle of a job. Janine isn’t convinced at first that many people would pay to hear from Ava, so she convinces Gregory and Melissa to go into the auditorium so that Ava isn’t stuck speaking to an empty room. They’re all surprised when they head inside and realize it’s a full house. 

They watch Ava speak and give advice based on their interactions with Abbott Elementary staff to an enthralled crowd. Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) is even on stage shooting t-shirts out of a canon while the crowd chants Ava’s name. When they group talks with Ava, Janine says that maybe she should ask for Ava’s job back because Ava seems to be doing well and maybe it was just Janine who wasn’t ready to let go. She admits that she’s going to miss Ava. Gregory and Melissa ask about the filing system and get an explanation that may or may not be helpful. Janine says goodbye and once she’s gone Ava seems sad to see her go.

Barbara and Jacob are cleaning up in the music room and Jacob notices that Barbara is singing the fundamentals song the kids used her voice to make. Jacob notes that the song is pretty catchy, so much so the kids are often singing it during class as opposed to paying attention to him. Barbara agrees it is kind of an ear worm, she just wishes that it had more build. Jacob suggests that she help them with that. Barbara is a great teacher, Jacob says, the kids love music and Barbara loves music he thinks they can make this work. He adds that Barbara should show them what the song needs in order to be better.  

In the next attempt at music class the kids are bummed out that the song they made didn’t go viral and are making suggestions about how it could be better. Barbara takes the opening and gets on the piano to provide suggestions which the kids enjoy. When she’s talking to the cameras she admits that she is so used to teaching the little ones the basics that she forgot that the older ones need to know why they’re learning. They make changes to the song and everyone really enjoys it. 

Once the rest of the kids are gone a boy named August (James Jay Alexander) comes up to her and says that although today was fun he still wants to keep learning music her way. Barbara reassures him that it would be fine and he leaves. 

We eventually see Melissa and Gregory finally understand Ava’s filing system. Gregory says he prides himself on being organized, but he says that Ava’s system is ingenious.