From elementary school through high school, Belmont's music teachers work to help students to explore the world of music, discover new skills and find new sources of artistic inspiration. Get to know some of these talented teachers with these mini-profiles, conducted in the fall of 2022.
A big POMS thank you to chorus student Helena De Figueiredo Valente ('23) for conducting these interviews. Look for more teacher profiles coming soon!
A big POMS thank you to chorus student Helena De Figueiredo Valente ('23) for conducting these interviews. Look for more teacher profiles coming soon!
Meg Dagon
Elementary Strings Teacher Years teaching in Belmont: 6 What is your favorite thing about being a music teacher? I love knowing that students carry the skills we teach in music classes with them for the rest of their lives. I meet lots of adults who have come back to playing their string instrument during retirement, in community orchestras, fiddle groups, etc., and often they started their learning decades prior in an elementary string program. What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? Set up a dedicated place to practice the instrument at home with all of the supplies needed (pencils, music stand, good lighting, a tuner, a place for the instrument case). Make it cozy and comfortable. Young students can add something fun like a favorite stuffed animal, special photo, etc. |
Sara Carson
Chorus teacher, Chenery Middle School Years teaching in Belmont: 6 What do you love about being a music teacher? I love sharing the joy of music with students! What I particularly love about teaching at Chenery is that I can make connections with over a third of the school. This is very special; whether these students continue with music or not, I get to know so many kids. I love my job in Belmont. The community is so supportive of the arts! What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? Ask questions, don’t be afraid of taking risks, and find something you love about every piece. |
Kaitlin Donovan
Choral Director, Belmont High School and Chenery Middle School Years teaching in Belmont: 4 What do you love about being a music teacher? I love that every day is so different and that I get to see students become musicians! The creative process is a joy to watch, and there is nothing more rewarding than watching each student grow in their love for music and singing in a community the way that I do! What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? My best tip is to take risks and be okay with making mistakes, because the best kind of music is made from taking chances and getting out of your comfort zone. |
Ken Gable
Music Teacher, Chenery Middle School Years teaching in Belmont: 3 What do you love about being a music teacher? I enjoy having the opportunity to inspire students to develop a passion for music. What is your best tip on how to have a great musical year? Play and listen to music that you enjoy as much as possible, as we learn the best when we are having fun. |
Allison Lacasse
Band Director, Belmont High School Years teaching in Belmont: 4 What do you love about being a music teacher? I love that I get to make music with students all day long and work side-by-side with them to develop their skills, passion, and lifelong love of music. I love that I get to work with students for all four years of high school and help them become the best version of themselves through taking risks in performances, having fun but also challenging moments in rehearsal, and seeing them achieve their goals in an ensemble or classroom setting. What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? My best tip is to recognize that music is not a sprint--it's a marathon. There are going to be weeks or days where it feels so tough and overwhelming, and the easiest thing to do in that moment would be to give up. Let yourself rest, recognize that this is a challenging endeavor, and just trust yourself to stick with it. There is no greater feeling than looking back and acknowledging that YOU DID IT and persevered through those ultra-challenging moments that push us farther than our comfort zones. Recognize the power of rest, remember WHY you chose to become a musician, and celebrate the little victories along the way. |
Vickie Livermore
Elementary Music Teacher - Butler School Years teaching in Belmont: 9 What is your favorite thing about being a music teacher? It is great getting to see kids sing, move, play and create every day. I like to help with their learning as they work cooperatively to make music. I love that I get to see many of these kids over the course of their K-4 growing time. They are creative, thoughtful, funny and energetic. I learn so much from them! What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? Think of the Zootopia song and “Try Everything”--be it playing an instrument, singing or moving creatively. Some things may be out of your comfort zone, or may be difficult at first, but it always gets better! |
Margot Reavey
Orchestra Director, Grades 6-12 (Belmont High School and Chenery Middle School) Years teaching in Belmont: 16 What do you love about being a music teacher? I love seeing students grow as musicians, building skills and friendships year upon year as they progress through middle and high school. What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? My best tip is to practice consistently—quality over quantity. It doesn't have to be for tons of time, but consistency will build up technique, confidence and endurance. Once you start hearing progress and feeling success, music-making becomes even more fun and rewarding! |
Jaclyn Viscardi
Band and Music Teacher, Chenery Middle School Years teaching in Belmont: 7 What do you love about being a music teacher? The aspect of teaching music I love most is seeing a student face a challenge and succeed. By conquering a struggle, students realize they have an ability now that they did not before, and the energy, joy and confidence that results is infectious. These challenges are not always large. For example, the first few weeks of beginners in 5th grade are some of my favorites, with students meeting the challenge of remembering how to hold their instrument, or forming their embouchure correctly, or recalling their first songs by ear. I truly enjoy pointing out and celebrating students’ accomplishments, small and large. Hard work yields results! What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? My tip for students? Input = Output. If you want to see growth musically, you must do the work to train your mind and muscles to prepare for what you want. The only way to truly learn to play an instrument is to...play the instrument! Commit to yourself and allow the time and focused energy to get the most out of every practice session. |
Joe Wright
Band and General Music Teacher, Chenery Middle School Years teaching in Belmont: 3 What do you love about being a music teacher? I love teaching, and I love the challenge and privilege of helping a child grow into a passionate adult. I am particularly blessed that music is my way of helping that happen! What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? Growing as a musician takes hard work and patience, and those are not always easy to come by in a busy life. They are much easier to access if your musical life always has some element of fun. If that's not happening automatically, then find some way to have fun with music! |
Arto Asadoorian
Director of Visual & Performing Arts, Belmont Public Schools Years teaching in Belmont: 17 What is your favorite thing about being a music teacher? I love the process of being in a room with other musicians and working things out and hearing how things come together as an ensemble. I’m also just fascinated by music and how it is constructed and assembled, and I love to be surprised by a song or piece of music. When I hear something that makes my eyebrows raise up because of something unexpected, that is a great feeling. Being a music teacher gives you the opportunity to experience that every day--and in Belmont, our students are such great musicians that the quality of the music we get to make together is really excellent. What is your best tip on how to have a great musical school year? Walk into rehearsal every day reminding yourself of how lucky you are to be able to do this. There was a time not so long ago when we couldn’t make music together in school. There are places around the world right now where teenagers don’t have the luxury of going to school and playing instruments or singing with their friends. You are really lucky to be able to do this every day, and you will miss it once you have graduated. You owe it to yourselves and your classmates to give each rehearsal the best effort and musicianship that you have to offer. |