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February 7,
2005
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Janis
Stockhouse plays the flugelhorn during class at
Bloomington High School North last week. Staff photo by
Chris Howell |
A passion for music
Stockhouse finds joy in sharing arts with her students
By Nicole Kauffman,
Herald-Times
Janis Stockhouse remembers hearing a particular adage when she
was in college: "Those who can, do, and those who can't, teach."
But the former Indiana University music major, while striving to
be the best musician she could be, always knew she wanted to
fill her life with students.
"I want to share with them the passion that I have for music and
the arts," Stockhouse said.
On a recent morning, the 49-year-old co-director of bands at
Bloomington High School North stood in front of about 40
students struggling to learn the Spanish march "Amparito Roca."
Wearing a purple jacket and a black skirt, Stockhouse alternated
between snapping her fingers, singing rhythms and melodies and
using her conducting baton to emphasize notes.
For the past 24 years, Stockhouse has stood in that band room,
baton in hand, just as on this day. What changes are the faces
in front of her.
On top of cubicles where students store their instrument cases
are no fewer than 500 trophies detailing the school's musical
accolades. The walls above them display about 70 plaques.
The jazz band program, in particular, has been revered — and
copied — nationwide.
"It's a community school, not a private school. For it to have
that kind of tradition … it's pretty amazing," said jazz
trumpeter Pat Harbison, an associate professor in the IU School
of Music.
Several of Stockhouse's students have gone on to illustrious
careers, including Ricardo Morales, who was appointed principal
clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra at age 21.
"I visited him in his New York apartment," Stockhouse said.
And Matt Pavolka: "He's been a professional jazz bassist in New
York City for several years," Stockhouse said.
But critical acclaim is not the only measure of success for
which the teacher shoots.
"I feel like I have accomplished something (if) when they leave
Bloomington North they no longer need a music teacher because
they are independent musicians and lifelong appreciators of
art," she said.
On Feb. 16, Stockhouse will receive the 2005 Arts in Education
Award from the Bloomington Area Arts Council.
After reflecting on her win for a moment, she laughed and said,
"Perhaps I got it because of the volume."
A life of learning
Much has changed since the Chicago-area native took the position
at North in 1981. Then, she was the only band director, where
now she works alongside Tom Wilson.
She initially led two concert bands and two jazz bands and
taught music theory, and today, there are four jazz bands and
three full concert bands.
"It's wonderful to have seen the growth," she said.
But she gives credit for North's accomplishments and longevity
to others, including Deniese Smith, chairwoman of fine arts at
the school, and Harbison and IU faculty member David Baker, who
share their valuable insight with high-school students.
"They're very generous in their outreach and just an inspiration
to everyone," Stockhouse said.
Humility is one of Stockhouse's strong suits, said Smith, who
was a member of the committee that hired the band director.
"One thing I know about Janis is that she's very modest about
her accomplishments. It's very difficult for her to accept
praise, and she always deflects it," Smith said.
Her colleague prefers to talk about students' accomplishments,
not her own, which include co-writing the successful 2004 book
"Jazzwomen" and being named Indiana Music Teacher of the Year in
1997.
Stockhouse also is one of two members in the Young Talent
category on the Resource Team of the International Association
for Jazz Educators. Her counterpart is Justin DiCioccio, who
designed and directed the La Guardia High School of the Arts
Jazz Program and is assistant dean at the Manhattan School of
Music.
The two field questions from fellow educators about young
people's study of jazz.
"She's one of those people considered at the very top of the
field," Harbison said.
Prestigious awards and positions aside, Stockhouse's
accomplishments reach far beyond leading a group of champion
musicians, Harbison said.
"There are few successful head band directors that are women,"
he said. "She's very unself-conscious about that, just goes in
there and does the job and doesn't think anything about it."
Stockhouse's ability to admit when she doesn't know something in
her field is a rare trait in teachers, he added. And she takes
that a step further, inviting others into her classroom to share
their knowledge.
"She doesn't feel afraid of letting people (in) to lend their
expertise," he said. "She'll be sitting there either playing
right along with her kids and taking notes."
Students realize if it's important enough for Stockhouse to want
to learn, it's probably important for them, too.
Mona Mjolsnes, a 1994 North graduate, describes her former
teacher as generous.
"She would always let us borrow her car," recalls Mjolsnes. "At
the time, it seemed perfectly normal, but looking back, I can't
believe she trusted us so much."
Mjolsnes, who teaches music in Illinois, said Stockhouse's
teaching methods are something Mjolsnes refers to on a daily
basis.
Setting such young people on their musical path in life is what
makes Stockhouse proud of what she does.
"It's like having your own child accomplish something; it makes
my heart swell with pride," she said. "Almost daily I hear from
someone, e-mail or phone call — again, because I've been here so
long."
But, Stockhouse admits there were times she didn't think she
would stay at Bloomington North.
"I suppose at some point I thought the next logical move would
be to a college. But the more I thought about that, I realized I
was so happy," she said. "I truly, truly love equally classical
music and jazz music, and that's what makes me so happy, to
study both and teach both."
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Janis
Stockhouse, band director at Bloomington High School
North, points out the student who is to play the
next solo as she conducts her students in jazz combo
during class last week. Stockhouse recently won the
2005 Bloomington Arts Council Award for Education in
Arts. Staff photo by Chris Howell |
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