Date: Fri 26-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

schools-Zamary-music-band

Full Text:

NHS Band Director Moves On In His Career

(with photo)

BY MICHELE HOGAN

Jack Zamary will miss the Newtown High School Band that he has dedicated so

much energy to in the last six years.

He will be vacating the position of band director at the end of the semester

in order to take an administrative position coordinating music activities for

kindergarten through grade twelve in Region 15.

Even though, in Principal Bill Manfredonia's words, "This new position is a

tremendous career leap for Jack. He agonized over the decision to leave the

Newtown High School band for a couple of months."

Mr Zamary's new position will make it easier for him to pursue a doctorate,

give him more evenings with his young family, and challenge him to coordinate

music programs on a larger scale.

According to Mr Zamary, Newtown has been a great model for music programming.

There is very little he would want to change in the Newtown music curriculum.

"Young children need to experiment and have a variety of musical experiences,"

he said.

Mr Zamary enjoys playing piano with his five-year-old daughter but is careful

not to push her. About serious instrumental instruction, Mr Zamary felt that

the one obstacle with beginning instrumental music is "the learning curve."

Students can be discouraged by the initial sounds that come out of their

instruments. It takes a commitment to practice that students are typically

developmentally ready to make at about the fourth or fifth grade level. This

is just when instrumental instruction begins in local schools.

Mr Zamary had great enthusiasm for the music labs at the middle school. He

said that "the combination of music and electronics gives students immediate

feedback, and does great things for both music and computer literacy."

By high school level "students have many more choices."

He also said that "Newtown is unique, in having so many students involved in

the music programs." Mr Zamary favors expanding both performance and

non-performance classes (such as computerized musical production mentioned

above, and ear training).

Mr Zamary will continue to live in Newtown, and his children will be attending

local schools. He will still have a stake in Newtown's continued success.

Bill Manfredonia believes he will be able to attract high quality applicants

to the position vacated by Mr Zamary. The great successes of the Newtown High

School Band, the new music facilities, and the active Band Parent's

Association will all help attract high caliber candidates, according to Mr

Mafredonia.