Maine Motif Maine Motif May 2017 Issue 3 Volume I | Page 9

In the late 1950’s or early 1960’s,
“the State Department of
Education gave him a
one year sabbatical from U.M.P.I.
to develop and teach a weekly
music instruction series
called music theater on
commercial television (there was
no MPBN yet) to be seen by
students in rural classrooms that
had no local music teacher. The
show was taped and
shown seven more years.” (BDN
03/14/17)
The kids in my multi-grade classroom, 2 - 4, at Swift River Valley School in
Roxbury, Maine watched this 15 minute show every week. The 15 of us (yes, 15 kids in
three grades) would gather in the extra classroom of the four room school and watch as
Jan spun his magic. He always opened and, I think, closed the show with The Barnyard
Song, singing and playing guitar. I loved listening to him sing, and watch him teach
music concepts. It was through him that my interest in music began. I am sure there
were students in many other rural schools who watched Jan.
Amazingly, Jan was a member of MENC/NAfME from 1947 through 2013: 66 years—a
tribute to his lifelong support of his—and our—professional organization. The point,
beyond paying tribute to an outstanding music educator, is that you never know which
student may be positively impacted by what you do in your classroom. The student who
may act out in class could possibly be the one who remembers playing the recorder, or
attending a Portland Symphony concert, all because you made the effort to show them
what was possible. And someday, that student will be a tax paying citizen.
This year’s Centennial conference offers many opportunities to learn new
strategies, polish old ones, hob nob with colleagues, and celebrate Maine’s first
century of supporting music educators. May 18 & 19, make the University of Maine your
destination of choice. Jan will be there in spirit.
Note: Jan Kok’s complete obituary can be found on the MMEA Facebook page.