Maine Motif Issue 3, Vol. II (Spring 2018) | Page 17

Building A Lasting Lineage
Through Mentorship
By David Schumacher
More than two decades after graduation, I still try to grab a drink with my middle and
high school jazz band director Dick Rabideau when I’m back home in Plattsburgh, NY. I
was privileged to have many great music teachers, but Dick was the first to expose me to
the music that would shape the rest of my life. Even as a young student there was
something unique not only about how we played jazz, but how we learned it. As my own
students returned to share their experiences, sit in on rehearsals, or ask for guidance, a
subconscious thought became reality for me. It’s all about the relationships. More than
the 1 st place finishes and outstanding musicianship awards, the gold medals, or the spots
in District and All-State ensembles my students earned, it was going to be the student-
teacher and peer relationships that truly held lasting meaning and significance. They
would sustain my own sanity and longevity in this field, but would also provide the
paramount formative influence on my students. At Pentucket, these relationships have
been key to perpetuate a cycle of mentorship: A method of learning long admired in the
jazz tradition, but sometimes overlooked in the hyper-academic settings into which jazz
education has been assimilated.
Under the premise of strong mentorship, I asked a mix of former students to articulate
their thoughts on what distinguished our program, how it prepared them for “real” life,
and what continues to bring them back for concerts, rehearsals, and advice. I was struck
and humbled by the consistency of their impressions. Many of their thoughts served as
confirmation of the approaches I trusted to be effective, and had learned as a student
myself.
Speaking the Truth
“Y’all sound like s&$#. You need to practice!” Those were the first words I, and my
fellow classmates at Michigan State University, heard from jazz master Branford
Marsalis after hearing us perform on the first day of his residency back in the mid 90’s.
You can imagine our indignation, but as isolated university students we simply had no
perspective. Turns out he didn’t really mean it. He thought we were on the right track –