Episode 7: Calida N. Jones

10/06/20 • 64 min

Calida Jones began studying the piano at the age of 3 while attending Nursery School, and switched to violin at the age of 6 when she entered Thomas G. Pullen Performing Arts School in Landover, Maryland. Currently, Calida is the Assistant Director of Education & Engagement at University of Hartford’s The Hartt School. She also serves as Program Director for Music Matters, and the Conductor of the Hartford All-City Youth Orchestra in conjunction with the Charter Oak Culture Center. Prior to those roles, Calida was appointed Director of Development and Advocacy for the El Sistema inspired program PROJECT MUSIC from 2018-2019. In 2012, Calida was hired by the Waterbury Symphony Orchestra to design and implement the El Sistema inspired program “Bravo Waterbury!” (Bravo). She continued her work in Waterbury until August of 2018. She continues to consult with organizations all over the country. An accomplished musician, social justice advocate and educator, Calida’s work has taken her all over the world teaching and performing. Calida is passionate about intentional purposeful teaching and community engagement. Her personal mission is to ensure that children who have limited resources also have access to musical opportunities and activities. She knows that this type of musical
exposure and education will benefit them and build their confidence which will catapult them to successful careers, regardless of the career path. She is committed to correlating the art of teaching to life skills, and community building. Calida has had the privilege of speaking multiple times at the prestigious Yale School of Music, Duke University, Ravinia, The Connecticut State Capitol, The Hartt School of Music, and was a Tedx speaker in San Jose, CA. Most recently, Calida has consulted with Sphinx Organization, The Cleveland Orchestra, The Utah Cultural Alliance, and a host of other organizations. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Bachelors of Fine Arts in Violin Performance), she received her Masters in Violin Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from The Hartt School of
Music. Calida is honored and humbled to have received awards, and honors during her career including a scholar fellowship at the Aspen Festival of Ideas, The Elizabeth Mahaffey Fellowship, a Grammy nomination for the Music Educator Excellence Award, the Father Thomas H. Dwyer Humanitarian Award for her work in Waterbury, Connecticut, and the 2018 CT Arts Hero Award in Waterbury CT. Calida serves on the Board of The Hartt School of Music, El Sistema USA (Board Clerk), and chairs
the Racial Diversity and Cultural Understanding Committee; she also serves as the President of the Connecticut Arts Alliance.
https://cnjassociates.com
Instagram: @cnjassociates
LinkedIn: Calida Jones

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Episode 6: Nick Matherne

This week, Bailey talks with Nick Matherne. Nick offers a unique perspective on how student-led learning can improve the ensemble experience, while also giving students skills that allow them greater freedom in music making outside of school. Nick is an instrumental music teacher at Kaimuki High School and teaches the University Chorus and music education courses at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He serves as president-elect
for the Hawai’i Music Educators Association and is the University Resources and Repertoire Chair for the Hawai'i Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, he has taught high school music in Hawaiʻi, Maryland, and Virginia, teaching courses in instrumental, vocal, and popular music. Nick holds a B.M. in Music Education and a B.A. in Spanish from James Madison University and an M.A. in Music Education from University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His thesis examines older adults’ well-being and participation in community music and his research interests include popular music education, well-being, participation in school music, alternative music classroom formats, and distance learning pedagogy. He is a co-author for a chapter on school-university partnerships in popular music education in the upcoming book, Action-Based Pedagogies for Popular Music Education: A Practical Guide.
Website: https://mathernemusic.weebly.com/

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Episode 8: Christian Howes

In this episode, Bailey sits down with jazz violinist and educator Christian Howes. Suzuki grad and Suzuki Dad, Violinist, educator and composer, Christian Howes is the founder of “Creative Strings“, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to expand music education through the creation of online curriculum, an annual summer conference, and dozens of visits to schools annually teaching improvisation, contemporary styles, and related subjects. Since March 2020 he has published over 150 Free Play Along Videos on his Youtube channel to support teachers and players of all levels. He was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll (“Rising Stars/Violin”), named among the top three violinists in the JazzTimes critics poll, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalist Association. He received the Residency Partner Award through Chamber Music America, earned a USArtists grant through the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and was invited by the U.S. State department to teach and perform as a cultural ambassador twice, in Ukraine and Montenegro. His release on Resonance Records, “Southern Exposure” earned recognition in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Downbeat, Jazz Times, as well as a six-night run at Lincoln Center. His release, “American Spirit” was named among the Best Jazz Albums of 2015′′ by the Huffington Post.

"SuperNova" Suzuki Reimagined with David Cutler:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/supernovacreativity/supernova-0
Christian Howes' Website and Facebook Page:
https://christianhowes.com/https://www.facebook.com/christianhowesviolinist/