FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Dylan LaGamma ’ 09 holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Rhode Island and a Master ’ s from Rutgers University . He was granted tenure at Fordham Prep in 2021 .
I THINK THAT IT ’ S ALSO GOOD THAT [ THE STUDENTS ] SEE ME AS NOT JUST A TEACHER BUT ALSO AS A MUSICIAN . I THINK BEING AS AUTHENTIC AS POSSIBLE IS IMPORTANT .
– Dylan LaGamma ’ 09 Incoming Chairperson of the Visual and Performing Arts Department
FROM ALUMNUS TO VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT CHAIR
D ylan LaGamma ’ 09 is Fordham Prep ’ s music teacher , moderator of the student podcast “ Ramblin ’,” and moderator of the Frisbee Club . For the 2022 – 23 school year , he will add chair of the Visual and Performing Arts Department to that list of titles .
Perhaps the reason LaGamma doesn ’ t mind his ever-growing list of responsibilities at the school is because the Prep is home to him .
“[ Fordham Prep ] feels like home because it partially is ,” he admitted . “ It was home [ then ] very much the same way it ’ s home now ,” he continued , adding that his former Italian teacher and mother-in-law , Patricia Simeone , is one of his colleagues .
LaGamma started out as a part-time teacher at the Prep in 2014 . His classroom on the third floor is the Prep ’ s Band Room where there is seldom a quiet moment . Unlike other classrooms at the school , there are no desks in the Band Room . In place of desks , LaGamma requested keyboards on stands with chairs for students to sit at during class .
“ I think the benefit of working here as opposed to in other schools is that I ’ m sort of given this freedom to make this my own ,” he says . Along with his other Visual and Performing Arts Department colleagues ( who he notes are all Prep alumni , the only academic department to hold this distinction ), LaGamma has helped to create an experience for students that doesn ’ t exist in the same capacity elsewhere .
“ We really expanded the number of liberal arts opportunities , which was the goal . Adding AP Music Theory last year was a big thing ,” he said . The department has also added an AP 2-D Art & Design course for those interested in visual arts .
However , when LaGamma was a student at Fordham Prep in the late 2000s , the arts program wasn ’ t as robust . Back then , students didn ’ t have band rehearsals during the school day . Instead , students had to wait until after school for practice .
“ Band was limited to maybe like once or twice a week , depending on the time of year ,”
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FORDHAM PREP RAMVIEW