Teacher Feature: Patricia Kelly

Classical MPR's Teacher Feature highlights the lives and work of music teachers throughout Minnesota.

Patricia Kelly

String Teacher and Director

Folwell Performing Arts Magnet

Minneapolis

What grade level(s) do you teach? What types of music classes do you teach?

I teach grades 3-8, full-time string lessons and orchestras. At Folwell, Liz Therkildsen and I teach every single 3rd and 4th grader (it is a requirement at our Performing Arts Magnet) and then most of the 4th graders are in 4th grade orchestra once a week as well. Our 5th and 6th graders have orchestra every other day and their sectionals are pulled during that time. Our 7th and 8th graders have orchestra four out of 5 days but do not get sectionals. We are working on that. We also have electives. Mariachi Orchestra meets two days a week and we also have beginning strings for 6th-8th grade students new to our school. Next year we want to add Composition as an elective, too!

Do you direct any ensembles? If so, which ones?

At Folwell, I direct one of the 4th grade orchestras, the 5th grade Cedar Orchestra, the 7/8 Chamber Strings (which just received one superior with distinction at the MNSOTA Middle Level Orchestra Festival!), and the Folwell Mariachi Orchestra.

On Saturdays I also direct the String Orchestra for Minnesota Youth Symphonies.

Where did you go to college?

I am a proud alumni of St. Catherine University and the University of Minnesota.

Who or what inspired you to become a music teacher?

I grew up in St. Cloud, which at the time was still considered a big "small town." I had some very good teachers like violinist James Strang. I also studied piano with Mrs. Strang. They were very musical and encouraged me to study with piano teachers at St. Johns University and to join the St. Cloud Civic Orchestra which had just formed. I played with the other High School Orchestra teachers and professors from St. Cloud State. These professionals taught me so much as a mere high schooler playing Mahler for the first time. I was lucky they let me in. I am sure it was because they needed more violists as usual!!

I loved music and loved teaching it from the very beginning. Dr. Maurice Jones at St. Catherines was also a huge influence. He taught us to listen, really listen, and perform with passion, musicality and commitment. Ed Fourner at Macalaster College freed me up. For example, he required that I play piano in four different clefs at the same time. That was mind blowing. I did my student teaching with Jim Berg and he taught me how to study a score and demand excellence. He practiced tough love and always loved a good joke. I follow his philosophy.

In what ways do you try to encourage your students to appreciate and participate in music?

I am always trying to find ways to get my students additional music adventures. I encourage former students to come back and tutor. I find scholarships and bus cards so my older students can participate in summer orchestras and camps. I write a lot of recommendations — most of my students are very poor so organizations like Sphinx and MYS who offer large scholarships are very important. Individual mentors from our string community volunteer their time teaching bass, like John Bulger, or fixing our string instruments, like Carl Anderson does. I never turn down a gifted volunteer and try to make them feel as appreciated as I can. These folks make the biggest difference in the lives of children. It takes years, lots of different musical experiences and many, many people to help "create" a successful string player.

What would you say is your primary instrument?

Viola — all the way.

Do you participate in music outside the classroom?

I have gone to an adult chamber music camp almost every summer at Hoot Owl Resort near Itasca. I am the violist in the Nicollet Quartet for the past 25 years and freelance as a conductor and player. I also have conducted with MN Youth Symphonies for the past 20 years.

Where do you see music education fitting into the broader educational spectrum? How does it help or enhance other curricular areas?

I think every discipline area should be taught like music. I could go on and on with this subject. Education needs to be turned on its head. For example, if we were to teach math like music is taught we would have small group lessons where we would focus on techniques and skills and learn to manipulate the pieces. Then we would immediately set this learning into a bigger concept with an application that is meaningful and developmentally appropriate. How fun to make music in a large group and perhaps float a boat! This idea could go on and on.

What's one of the most memorable moments you've had in the classroom (or had while teaching music)?

Oh there are so many. Just a few weeks ago my Chamber Strings, 7th and 8th graders, sightread — slowly — the first movement of the St. Paul Suite by Holst. This was a major accomplishment because no one quit when it got hard. They stuck with it, they were resilient, they had enough confidence to carry on and strong enough sightreading skills to accomplish this task. They had just gotten a high mark in a competition and it translated into courage. I was so proud of how far they have come. They are true musicians now and ready for high school.

Do you have a story of an experience where music education made a difference in a student's life? Just recently a past student of mine, Columbus Smith, won a Grammy for producing the Best Rap Song of the Year: "I" by Kendrick Lamar. He gave me a shout-out during his acceptance speech and said music changed his life. He is such a sweetheart to think of me and give me this recognition. Also recently, a gifted 8th grade bass student, who also is a top athlete, was being recruited by a number of private High Schools. But his coach told me he refused to go to any High School that didn't have an Orchestra Program. I keep telling him that after his pro life is over he needs to coach and be the Orchestra Director somewhere. He plans to do this. He hasn't made his difference yet, but I know he will.

If you were to help program a day of music at Classical MPR, what would be a piece of music you'd play in the morning? What piece of music would you play in the evening? What is it about these pieces that make them a couple of your favorites?

The St. Paul Suite has been on my mind lately. And I love its title since I live in St. Paul. The jig is perfect for March and St. Patrick's Day.

For evening I would pick moodier pieces like Grieg's "Heart Wounds." It is painfully beautiful.

Is there a music teacher in your community that the Classical MPR audience should know about? Submit this form to nominate them for our Teacher Feature!

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