As a music teacher, the big question that I face is how can I create a love for music and performing in my program? I recently watched a documentary called "Thunder Soul" which is about the Kashmere Stage Band, an all black high school jazz/funk band that became a national sensation in the 70's. The band was lead by director Conrad O. Johnson or "Prof" and the band won many jazz band competitions and even recorded top selling albums. It takes a special kind of person to take a group of high school students and make them into a professional band. Johnson believed that if his students could play with the same quality as a professional, then they would stick with their music. He gave his students a means to be amazing and he pushed them and challenged them to be the best they could be. These high expectations are what some of the members said "saved their lives." Many of the members of the band did not have father figures in their lives and were not motivated or committed to school but Johnson became a father figure all of his students and he trained and shaped his student's minds. He gave them something that they could lean on for the rest of their lives. He believed that there was no limit to a child's ability to play music, so he set high goals and inspired them to put everything into it and he could see the future inside of each of his students.
Johnson not only inspired his students, but he has also inspired me to be the the teacher that could have such a profound effect on his students. To create a love for music I must remember that every child can play music and like Johnson said, there is not limit to a child's ability to play music. I have to believe in my students because in some cases they might not believe in themselves or their family might not believe in them. Giving a student that hope will motivate them to continue playing. I want my students to know that they are part of something great and that they are representing the school and the community and that they are creating an identity for themselves and their home. Music is extremely powerful, even if students do not continue to pursue music after graduation, they still have something to lean on for the rest of their lives that many people are not lucky enough to have. My goal is to create a life long love and appreciation for music and be able to open a new world for students to explore and be a part of.
Dylan,
ReplyDeletenice blog post! Love our similar outline.The story about Johnson hits close to home for me, I came from similar backgrounds. Glad to see your faith in live music education is a solid one!
Cheers.
Hi Dylan,
ReplyDeleteI too was profoundly moved by the story of Conrad O. Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band. I think it goes without saying that "Prof." was born to be a teacher. Given the culture or lack there of that many people identify with in 2015, the notion of someone such as Conrad O. Johnson taking a group of high school students and molding them into a professional level funk band, on par with the likes of James Brown, Parliament Funkadelic, Earth, Wind and Fire and the like there of, is completely foreign and unimaginable. One of the most important qualities that "Prof." possessed, which subsequently resonated in the hearts and minds of his students was work ethic. Johnson, his former students and those who knew him are quite candid about the fact that he easily could have been a professional musician. The talent, passion, and drive and skill sets that he had to work with were essential in his successes at Kashmere High School, located in one of the rougher sections of Houston, Texas. "Prof." demanded respect from his students and those in the community, but most importantly he earned it. As a result of receiving these accolades, he continually gave back and throughout the documentary it was obvious to me that he too had the utmost respect for the adolescents who set foot within his band room, as well as many of the members of the communities from whence they came. "Prof." was spot on in saying that there is absolutely no limit to a child's musical capabilities. One thing that I notice with students in 2015 is that the pressing issue is not their dislike for diverse styles of music, but their lack of knowledge concerning what recordings to listen to and how to go about listening. Professor Schneider told us about a colleague of his who is working on the music of "The Police" with his students. This individual felt that he was bringing contemporary sounds to the repertoire by referencing this particular group. While we all know that "The Police" are not exactly popular at this point in time, there is no reason whatsoever why students shouldn't find facets of this music that they can latch on to and run with. A child, adolescent or adult has the potential to like absolutely anything, but many times he or she needs to be at least mildly educated as to what they are listening for. Sure there are individuals who are just instinctively drawn to the sounds of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart for whatever reason, but more often than not, the listener needs a context for this music.
Conrad O. Johnson came directly out of the big band and swing eras respectively. He wanted his students to learn pieces such as "Summertime" as composed by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward. He quickly realized that he needed to teach them the sounds of the Bar-Kays, Sly and the Family Stone, the Commodores and Kool and the Gang, because to be quite blunt, "This was what was happenin' in the streets." The irony though is that Reginald Rollins, one of the alumni members of the Kashmere Stage Band, talked about how "Summertime" was a good song, but the only downside to it was that initially the ensemble was interpreting the selection in a ballad style. However, "Prof." was able to expertly combine funk with jazz, creating a literal "fusion" of the two styles, which is what gave the Kashmere Stage Band such a unique sound. They were winning jazz band competitions with funk styling, although the core of their music was completely rooted in the jazz tradition. The innovations of Conrad O. Johnson, musically and theatrically, were unlike anything that adjudicators and audiences had witnessed previously, and most certainly not from a high school band. Children are capable of far more than we give them credit for, particularly when it comes to creatively based tasks. Your dedication, involvement and connection with learners are the main forces that will propel them forward, allowing them to excel in ways that they never would have thought possible. It may be that just as "Prof." was a father figure for a number of his students, you too find yourself playing the role of teacher, mentor and parental figure all wrapped up in one. I think this alludes to the fact that our students must be receptive to each of us on a personal level, before there is any hope whatsoever of accomplishing anything on an educational level. Letting students know that our classroom is a safe environment, where they can truly be themselves and not be afraid of ridicule or failure, will teach them a sense of resilience that every person needs to survive in the dog-eat-dog world that we live in. Once the community begins to see what you have done through giving students something extremely powerful and positive to be a part of, they will quickly show their support for your efforts. At the very least, even if you have to go to the mat in justification of your program, you know that you will have a solid contingency behind you. Once again, I thank you for sharing many thought-provoking and compelling ideas my friend. I enjoyed reading your writing!
ReplyDelete-Matt Chasen-