Hector
Valentin's Dedication, Socratic Teaching and Belief in Discipline
Builds New Band Program at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary
When Hector Valentin was hired in March 2004 to teach general music,
he began his quest to develop a band program for the third- through
sixth-grade students at the underprivileged Martin Luther King Jr.
Elementary in Wyandanch, NY. In this small town of 13,500 people,
of which 3,000 are children, 91% of pre-K to fifth-grade students
are at poverty level; 81 – 90% are members of families whose
primary means of support is welfare; and 72% of district students
are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches.
“I saw that musical exposure had an impact on these kids so
I vowed to build a band program that would give them a rewarding place
to spend their energies,” said Valentin. |
The Quest for Band Instruments
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A determined Valentin went through the time-consuming
process to apply for a VH1 Save the Music Foundation grant for
new musical instruments. To be eligible, the school must not
currently have an instrumental music program, and would agree
to conduct the new program as part of the regular school day
and provide a qualified teacher for instruction.
According to the Foundation’s website, “There is
no doubt about it: music education equals brainpower. The VH1
Save The Music Foundation regards music as a fundamental part
of a child’s education, and is committed to restoring
music education to America’s public schools.” For
more on the Foundation, visit: www.vh1savethemusic.com
While awaiting news on the grant, Valentin went room-to-room
teaching general music. He had 8 instruments to share amongst
400 kids, 15 music-room computers he built on his own time from
parts he salvaged from old computers, and limited supplies he
bought with his own money.
In March 2005, VH1 granted $25,000 for 36 instruments –
flutes, clarinets, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, cornets
and one soprano saxophone – and the band program began.
In September 2005, The Tony Danza Show caught wind of the new
program from a parent at the school. In the first of Mr. Danza’s
school makeover projects, he surprised Mr. Valentin with 80
new instruments, Music Ace Maestro music education software
from Harmonic Vision, and a music room makeover by TLC “While
You Were Out.” Included were 30 keyboards and a digital
piano from Casio Keyboards for a keyboard lab, and 50 flutes,
clarinets, trumpets, saxophones, trombones, coronets and a full
drum kit from Conn-Selmer. |
Mastering the Basics
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| Before students can start on instruments,
Mr. Valentin uses Music Ace Maestro software to teach them the
basics. “I had used free trial lessons from the Music
Ace curriculum so I knew the kids dig it,” said Valentin.
“I was thrilled when Tony arranged for Harmonic Vision
to donate the complete set of forty-eight lessons.” Lessons
teach music theory, rhythm, pitch, note reading, listening,
keyboard, and harmony.
More than 5,000 school districts in North America use Music
Ace to make learning music fun.
An animated tutor leads students through interactive lessons.
Students are rewarded based on their performance, and at the
end of each lesson, a game reinforces the concepts learned
and helps teachers assess where students may need help.
“The younger kids really get the theory Music Ace teaches,”
explained Valentin. “They have fun learning music, and
I’m more efficient teaching it. I really like that the
software tracks the progress of each student so I can pinpoint
strengths and weaknesses, and change lesson content accordingly
for each child.” Valentin also uses Alfred's Essentials
of Music Theory to teach older kids in seventh grade and higher.
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Socratic Method Demonstrates Power of Peer-to-Peer Teaching
and Learning
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| About his teaching method, Valentin says,
“I teach them to teach themselves. Rather than telling
them what to do, I give them the problem and let them figure
it out. There’s more power in letting an 8-year-old explain
how to do something to his peers than me telling them.”
This Socratic Method, or teaching by asking rather than telling,
has been credited with teaching difficult subjects easily
to children while also capturing their enthusiasm. Questions
are used to arouse curiosity and serve as a step-by-step guide
for students to figure out a complex topic with their own
thinking and insights.
“The kids respond to their peers,” continued
Valentin. “If I get someone good at saxophone, he’s
my teaching assistant. Clarinet students help their saxophone
friends with the different fingering, and then I have kids
who can play both instruments.”
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Academic Discipline Also a Cornerstone of Program
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| "If I find out a student isn’t
doing homework or is misbehaving in class, they miss rehearsal
that week,” said Valentin. “If they miss three rehearsals
I will kick them off band. Extracurricular activities are a
privilege, and they should be contingent on behavior. The other
teachers love this. I also teach reading and math after school;
any of my students that show a deficiency in these areas must
attend until they pull their grades up." |
First Performances and Upcoming Competitions
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| The Tony Danza Show invited the Martin Luther
King Jr. Elementary band to perform a rendition of “Jingle
Bells” on the show’s December 19, 2005 Christmas
Special. “For some of our kids, it was their first trip
to Manhattan,” explained Valentin. “So we showed
them all the sights. We made a grand entrance across the TriBorough
Bridge and drove by ABC studios, Rockefeller Center, Times Square,
Midtown and Central Park.” The new band, which grew
from 20 members in 2005 to 75 as of January 2006, has played
for the school’s graduation ceremony, the Mother/Daughter
Tea, Boy’s Night Out and other special occasions.
The school’s first invitation to compete with other
bands came from the Suffolk County Music Education Association
(SCMEA). “I want to give our kids one more year of experience,
and we’ll be ready to compete in 2007,” said Valentin.
He hopes to compete next year at the SCMEA, the New York State
School Music Association (NYSSMA) and the Hoffstra University
band competitions.
Mr. Valentin holds bachelors degrees in music and in the
philosophy of ethics and education from Hoffstra University.
He holds a master of education from Cambridge University.
For more on The Tony Danza Show makeover: http://www.harmonicvision.com/news/DanzaShow.htm
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Hector S. Valentin
Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary, Wyandanch, New York
Home: 516.796.5606
School: 631.491.1040
justusband01@hotmail.com
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VH1 Save the Music Foundation Contact:
Laurie Schopp
Director of Programs and Policy
212.846.5364
Laurie.Schopp@vh1staff.com
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Harmonic Vision PR Contact:
Michelle Moody, Moody & Associates
214.363.3460
michellemoody@charter.net
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The Tony Danza Show Contacts:
Sheila Feren/Amy Lopiano/Emily Spitale
FerenComm
212.983.9898
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