Fallon Zimmerman performs

One call took a regular attendee of a musical group on Wednesdays to creating and teaching music lessons for grades 4K-12. With no prior experience working in a school setting, Fallon Zimmerman said yes to that call and started a new chapter in her life. However, new life experiences are always challenging; Zimmerman was told in high school that she had no future in music because she had been blind all her life.

Fallon was born with achromatopsia. She has no cones in her eyes and no color vision making her very sensitive to light. She attended Iowa Grant Schools and UW-Platteville but was bullied through it all for “being different” or even having claims made that she was faking. Zimmerman says, “It’s all about perspective; I choose to allow it to make me stronger.”

Music has been a part of Fallon’s life since a young age, knowing it was part of her personality. “At a young age, I would take my boombox in the living room and have little performances for my family.” This was one of the key moments that led her to continue music through high school, participating in band as a trumpet and choir as a lead soprano. However, her choir teacher was much less supportive of her hobby, saying that she had no future in any type of music because of her visual disability.

Trying to keep music in her life, Zimmerman has been a part of a praise band at UMC Platteville that also includes Logan and Austin Uppena, the two eldest sons of Potosi’s principal, Mike Uppena. He called her a few weeks before Boneske’s due date to offer the job and on-site training. Her long-term subbing period would be nearly three months. “It was out of left field but here I am, teaching 4K-12 as a long-term music sub.” 

On November 16, Fallon walked into the music class in the morning knowing that Boneske had gone into labor and her true subbing experience would begin. With only two weeks of general sub training and getting to know the kids she was ready. Each morning she would wake up and ride to Potosi with Tracy Brunton, due to her vision, with her guide dog. She would see five or six classes per day, including all ages. During her time here Zimmerman organized and directed the Christmas concerts for both elementary and middle/high school.

As unexpected as it was, Fallon expressed how grateful she was for this life experience. “I’ve learned a lot about children and how to interact and things I could do better, things that work or don’t work.”  Zimmerman has also expressed interest to students and staff to possibly sub for future days. Potosi music teacher Kirsten Boneske returned on February 8, just shy of three months since she first filed for maternity leave. 

Zimmerman said she wants people to understand that anyone can make music and to not let anyone or anything hold them back from what they love. She encouraged students daily, showed them part of her life and what has helped him in bad times, and always made sure the students were happy with what they were doing.