Op-Ed: Spontaneity, Excellence, and Education at Kent County High by Tom McHugh

The Mainstay, a local center for the arts, has a grant from the John Ben Snow Memorial Trust…and the focus of the grant is improving jazz performance at both Washington College and Kent County High School. This is the second year of our work together.

Last week, on Friday September 6, a bit of magic took place in the band room at Kent County High School.

The background: The Mainstay had one of its regular jazz programs scheduled for Thursday evening, September 5… MAX N’ FRIENDS… a group of national level jazz musicians who we regard as our “house band”. They have performed for us as a group of six at least 15 times over the years. The leader, Chuck Redd, is a famed vibraphonist, and drummer, and was a member for many years of TheCharlie Byrd Trio. Chuck called me on Wednesday and mentioned that since he was booked with the band to play at the Chestertown Jazz Festival on Saturday, he was going to stay over in Rock Hall on Friday. He told me this on Wednesday afternoon…so, a quick email and call went to the “magic music man” at KCHS, Keith Wharton, asking if he would like to make use of Chuck for an hour on Friday and the Snow grant would give a small honorarium to Chuck Redd.

“Bring him on…” was Keith’s response…

So, at 11:30 Friday, Chuck and I arrived at the KCHS band room, unpacked the vibes with the help of Keith’s kids, and set up drums.

Now if you don’t know “Dr. Wharton” (that’s what the kids call him) he is very quiet; he smiles with his eyes, and when you have finished with whatever you are saying to him, he just drifts away…usually to a place where he is engaged with a student. So, when he said, “I talked to Gina (Gina Jachimowicz is the principal of Worton Elementary across the way from the high school) and she said I could walk over and bring back five of my beginning drummers,4th graders, so they could come watch…” and off he went…the head of the music department, to hold the hands of these kids in the walkover, so that this opportunity would be available for them. And were they ever excited…

While Chuck waited for the older kids to show, he taught these youngsters how to do a drum beat basic, a paradiddle, by patting their hands on their knees, and then translated that into having them do Dizzy Gillespie’s classic, SALT PEANUTS!

When the older kids arrived, about 12 or 15 of them, all band performers at some level, Chuck played drums and vibes, and talked about music. And then,in the door came volunteer Sam Scalzo ,famed local sax man, to listen, and Carol Niemand, who teaches a volunteer drama class, who thought this experience would benefit her group. When Chuck demonstrated some of the famed Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa solos, eyes widened. And the questions were flying.

And now, the next surprise…during the presentation, Tracy Williams, Principal, KCHS, quietly entered the room. Now if you know schools, for a principal to carve 20 minutes from a frenetic schedule, at the last minute, to come support an activity for her kids…well..the kids were smiling, kind of waving hello, and Ms Williams pulled out her camera..(I would swear it was an Instamatic), and took a bunch of candids. Folks, I practically lived in public high schools during my career. This principal is aware of what is surrounding her, and responding.

Redd closed the one hour session a wonderful vibes piece. Before playing,he asked “..is the band drummer here today?” A tentative hand went up and Chuck invited the young man to join him, on drums, and the kid did just a great job.

So, why the fuss you say? Well, what happened here was something that all those people we hear about, who are considering locating to Kent County, should see…community people helping out, a department head who lives his job way beyond any job description, principals who knows how important a spontaneous act can be, and most of all, kids who are learning, and enjoying it greatly.

And you know? I could tell you a lot of similar stories about kids, parents, and superb teachers and administrators who do things like this every day in our schools. Those experiences would make a great brochure wouldn’t they?

Tom McHugh, Director The Mainstay
Professor Emeritus of Education
Vassar College