Musician prepares to become choir teacher at Hamilton

Jul 6, 2010 — East Valley Tribune

Michelle Reese

Jul. 6, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Editor's note: About this series: The Tribune is following Ben Shafer as he prepares to dive into a new career as a high school music teacher. His first day of school is July 27 in the Chandler Unified School District.

It's crunch time for first-year teacher Ben Shafer: mailing welcome letters, selecting music, delivering lessons.

Surrounded by more than a dozen students who volunteered Tuesday to assist him at Chandler's Hamilton High School, Shafer stuffed letters into envelopes, organized sign-making and prepared sheet music.

"This letter isn't folded right. It won't fit in the envelope," one teen said.

Shafer snatched onto the moment: "Everyone makes mistakes. I'm setting the pattern right now," noting he'd forgotten to sign the welcome letter before making more than 100 copies to be mailed.

"Learn, act, then share. It'll be on the quiz the first day of class," he said with a wry smile. Then, pen in hand, he turned his attention back to the stack of letters in front of him.

In December, Shafer, 31, graduated with a master's degree in music education. He completed his student teaching in Mesa under Dobson High School's choral director Bart Evans, husband to Cris Evans, who retired in May from her post as director of choirs at Hamilton.

More than two years earlier, Shafer left behind a sales career in the music industry to turn his passion for choral music into something more meaningful, he said.

There are many lessons he wants to pass on during his first year in the classroom.

Shafer calls choir a "mini lab for what we learn for life." He hopes he can capture that as he puts together the syllabus for the half dozen choirs at Hamilton. It's more than learning music, he said. It's instilling interpersonal skills, encouraging students to take risks and giving back to the community.

Part of that will include inviting new members into the program at Hamilton, Shafer said. Some may not be singers, but Shafer said that can be taught through one-on-one instruction, technology and peer work.

"That's half the battle in singing. You take risks in the classroom. I try to stress that there is no judgment. It's a judgment-free zone. We all make mistakes," Shafer said prior to the three-day weekend. "That's something I try to play out. I'm not perfect. I don't expect you to be perfect, but I expect you to try."

Next week Shafer officially starts his contract with the Chandler Unified School District. He'll attend almost a week of new teacher orientation put on by the administration. That will be followed by several days of workshops with returning teachers.

And on July 27, students hit the campus, and Shafer has big plans.

"Besides learning to be a musician, how do you become a responsible individual person who contributes to society?" Shafer said about one of his goals. "The choral classroom fosters a community of positive learning. Supporting that echoes what we learn in life."

The students already grasp much of the idea by just showing up to help, Shafer said. They also acknowledge that choir is different than other classes in high school.

"Besides the singing, I like the atmosphere. It's friendly," said junior Megan Arntsen, 16. Watching her brother during his years at Hamilton in the choir, she decided to join. It will be her third year.

She gives Shafer kudos. He first entered the classroom in May to assist Evans during auditions and to get to know the students.

"I'm sad to see Ms. Evans go, but Mr. Shafer's awesome. I think we're in capable hands," Arntsen said.

Fellow student Karishma Deshpadne, 15, agrees.

"I like choir. I like Mr. Shafer," she said while standing over a piano stuffing letters into envelopes. "I like him. He's going to fit in. He already has."

Next week: Ben Shafer meets his fellow first-time Chandler teachers.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0132-46746256