Wednesday July 9, 2003

Halloooo!

What the heck was I thinking in February?  I mean, I would die for some dang snow now.  But that's just it, isn't it - the ever-changing seasons keep each other interesting.  Wow that's deep.

I got an email from Chris Wing, a trombonist who is the Assistant Director of Jazz Studies at Ball State.  Chris is a graduate of Northrop High School in Ft Wayne, Indiana, a school I went to for my freshman and sophomore years before we moved back to Texas in '83.

In any case, Chris wrote me to inform me that Barry Ashton, the band director at Northrop, was retiring and having a Gala event to celebrate on Friday July 11.  I tried my best to get clear and free that day so I could fly up and be in the alumni band that night, but lo and behold an Airmen of Note recording session got scheduled that day and I could not get loose.  I feel pretty bad about that.

In any case, Ashton was truly a tremendously positive influence on me.  I found out they were compiling a binder with letters of appreciation for him so I sent one in:

Wednesday, July 09, 2003

Barry & Nan,

It is with my deepest regard and respect that I thank and congratulate both of you for your years of service to the students of Northrop High School, the Ft Wayne community, and the world of music education. Anyone who has worked with you knows that your knowledge and enthusiasm for music knows no bounds; the list of students who have benefited from having you as a teacher is long indeed.

You may remember me as a young trombone student in your department from fall 1980 through spring 1982. I certainly remember those days, in fact it was during my time in the band department at Northrop High School that my interest in jazz & trombone grew from being a talented but unfocused and mildly interested novice to an intermediate trombonist with a passion for practicing, learning and listening to jazz that bordered on obsession.

It takes a really good teacher to know when to get out of the way; it takes a great one to back off, then know just when to step in and give a little tug, push, or pull. Barry, you are a great one. The times that I wanted to charge ahead as a musician, I not only felt unencumbered, I felt a person behind me saying “GO!” Yours is a singular enthusiasm for the best parts of music, and it was and is contagious.

There is one experience with you that sticks out in my memory: One time, when you were addressing (and perhaps the emphasis is on “dressing”!) the band as a whole, you said something which I thought was unfair. Ever the dissident, I wrote an anonymous open letter and posted it on the bulletin board in the band room. I recall that you mentioned the letter in a subsequent rehearsal, and addressed the points raised. I then raised my hand and admitted to writing it, to which you responded, “I know you did.” After that, I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall, the summons to the Dean’s office, the stern lecture. 

But that shoe never did drop. To this day I am left with a mental picture of you as someone who is tough about expecting people to take responsibility for the “team” as a whole, but committed to allowing students to be individuals and to have minds of their own. You have no idea what an incredible example that is, and it is a lesson that has served me well as a husband and father of two, and as a supervisor and leader in the US Air Force Band in Washington, DC.

Again, congratulations on your retirement - I am filled with regret that my obligations here in DC prevent me from attending the celebration. I wish you the best of luck as you continue to influence future generations of musicians, and I hope to see you and Nan very soon.

                                                                      Very Respectfully Yours,

                                                                       Joe Jackson

                                                                       Lead Trombonist

                                                                       US Air Force Airmen of Note

Congratulations, Mr. Ashton!

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