I was raised in a household that was never quiet. Yes, my wife will probably tell you it’s because I would never stop talking, but it was largely due to my parents playing music from sunup to sundown.
My sisters played the viola through high school so, naturally, I picked it up as soon as I could hold a bow. I would play as soon as I was home from school and again before going to bed every night until reaching junior high school age, when band found me.
At the compelling suggestion of our band director, Jim Panerio, I put down the viola and picked up a trombone.
Jim was a graduate of Huron High School, and his impending retirement from music education is the reason for this column. I was raised in a home full of music, but that trombone gave me an entirely new connection to rhythm, articulation, and pure noise.
I had a growing collection of jazz and ska albums to fuel my love for its sound and an hour of each school day to learn from someone who shared that passion. We didn’t just learn to play our instruments; we learned to respect and understand the significance of Buddy Rich, Edgar Winter Group, and James Brown.
Throughout the rest of my education, the band room continued to be a second home and a reason to continue studying. Through marching band, I met my wife and some of my closest friends. Jazz band gave me a place to be after school while gaining the confidence to perform a solo in front of an audience – a skill that has come in handy many times over the years.
As Bono said, “Music can change the world, because it can change people.”
As we continue to approach the end of this school year, I would like to thank all music educators for sharing their time, their knowledge, and their passion. To Mr. Jim Panerio: thank you for being a mentor, a Disney World chaperone, a teacher, and a friend.
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