Music in the Schools

From the time I got my first guitar at the age of eight, I knew I wanted to be a musician.

Of all the things that come and go in life: the choices, the detours … I never once questioned the feeling I had inside that has consistently guided me through the years – that I was meant to play music.

Growing up, I was truly blessed to have had some great teachers. In addition to private guitar lessons, I had Mrs. Johnson at Happy Valley elementary school who taught me to play the violin. Miss (NOT Mrs.!) Mueller at Branciforte Junior High, who let me play any and everything I could get my hands on: violin, cello, bass, tympani, trumpet, clarinet… and in high school - Mr. Simmons, who gave me free reign over any instrument that wasn’t claimed by another student.

It was in this environment that I was allowed to be creative, and it was there that I had a reason to go to school at all. I did poorly in most other classes, as they did nothing to spark my interest, but in jazz band, marching band and orchestra I excelled. Straight A’s all the way through, baby!

I thought about all this last night as I sat in the audience at the Rio Theatre waiting for my turn to play for a benefit to help out the music programs in Santa Cruz.

It all started with a phone call a couple of weeks ago from one of the producers, Colin Alder, who asked me be part of Tammi Brown’s (Sista Monica, Stanley Jordan, Spyra Gyra, …) back up band. She was to be the last act to close the show that was to feature various acts performed by local kids, and since I was part of the Planet Cruz Comedy Hour’s house band, he thought it would be easy to put together something for this one night.

Of course I said yes, as I generally try to do with any and all things that involve music.

Tammi Brown is on her way to the “big time” – she was recently a Grammy nominee for her work on Stanley Jordan’s tune, “Steppin’ Out” and has just been asked to sing at the Apollo in New York. She and I are performing a couple of songs at the premier of the film, “Gospel Hill” at the Del Mar Theater in Santa Cruz next week. If she wants me to accompany her – I’m there!!!

Now with all this name dropping I just did (and there will be more), one might think that all those clumsy, beginner “musicians” would be a mere test of patience before the “real” deal at the end. Not the case at all.

From the first solo artist, singer/songwriter Tess Dunn, to the last group of breakdancers, I was completely in awe (and a little nervous)!

Tess owned the stage with such confidence and professionalism, as did the rock band made up of high school aged kids who played a killer version of Led Zepplin’s “Black Dog”. Jugglers, dancers, guitarists… all excellent and far and above the skill I had at that age.

As I watched I remembered fondly the teachers I told you about and couldn’t really believe that music and art programs for the schools are being cut.

Don’t we know how important it is to provide kids (and adults for that matter) with the opportunity to learn and work with each other in a creative environment?

And it doesn’t matter whether they go on to be working musicians or not. The skills you learn: the comraderie and communication skills, not to mention the feeling that you actually belong to something and therefore have something to contribute… How many kids are there wondering just what they are truly supposed to be doing in school when nothing else quite fits?

Music and art in the schools is important, no question.

So when the breakdancers were through with their gravity defying display of acrobatics (ah, to be young again – not that I ever could spin on my head, but you get the idea…), we took the stage.

With Matt Bohn (Hot Club Pacific) on bass, David Tucker (Sista Monica, Maria Mulduar) on drums, and Dale Ockerman (Doobie Brothers, White Album Ensemble) sitting in on keys, backup singers Celina, Alicia, and Theresa,  and myself on guitar - we backed up Tammi who started with a soulfull rendition of Bette Midler’s, “The Rose” followed by an all out dancing-in-the aisles version of Sister Sledge’s “We Are Family” that by the end, had all the performers packed onstage with us, celebrating and taking pictures of themselves and their friends.

I felt so proud of myself for having been true to my calling – to be sharing the stage with some of the best musicians in the area – and then it occurred to me that I was also sharing the stage with some kids who I am sure will be the future best musicians and entertainers, and that they too, were sharing the stage with me, and that we were all at the same place at the same time doing what we were meant to be doing.

What a gift.

Please do what you can to encourage others to follow their dreams, young or old - whether it be in the arts or on any other career path they imagine taking.

The same for you, too.

Go for it.

What are we waiting for?