around the uft

They’ve got the beat

Apr 10, 2008 10:43 AM

Brian Doherty is seven years into his second life. He teaches 6th grade at MS 286, the Fannie Lou Hamer School, in the Bronx. In his first life he was a professional drummer who spent 15 years recording and touring with different rock bands. Since his school had no instrumental music program and his kids like to keep the beat in song and tap the beats out on desks, Brian found a way to merge his two lives: create a drum group at school. He pitched the idea and his principal caught the pitch with a nod. The rest is history. For its “What’s Cool in School” segment, cable TV channel Bronx News 12 taped a lesson and rehearsal and aired it all day on March 20. “But the real meat of this story,” said Doherty, “is the students’ dedication and perseverance. Many kids have a very long commute but never miss a minute. The learning is truly hands-on. They acquire ensemble playing and listening skills. They use math to split measures and understand rhythm while continuously sharpening motor skills and coordination. Right now we’re memorizing 13 of the 26 essential drum rudiments. I call it ‘drum vocabulary.’ We’re also sharpening our reading skills by studying simple pieces of written music.” The school’s immediate goal is to find a drum company that will supply them with real drums for their drum line, instead of the rubber practice pads and sticks they currently use. When Doherty was a performer, he never lacked for supplies and backup. But he has no regrets. “The exchange you experience when teaching is similar to what happens when you’re on stage at Madison Square Garden,” he said. “The only difference is that education has lasting and life-improving benefits that go beyond the satisfaction of mere entertainment. I’ve played ‘RENT’ and ‘Hairspray’ on Broadway and worked with Twyla Tharp on ‘The Times They Are A-Changin’’ but my greatest love is being a classroom teacher.”