Steven Van Zandt joins Freeport's Atkinson School music lesson; talks about the importance of music and more
Mr. Steven Van Zandt, rock and roll guitarist, music education advocate and founder of the TeachRock Foundation, joined a virtual music lesson with the fifth-grade students in Ms. Lauren Chmiri's class at Freeport's Caroline G. Atkinson Intermediate School.
Led by Ms. Stephanie Arnell, the culminating virtual music lesson was based on the book "Grace's Rock and Roll Adventure." Prior to joining in a candid question and answer session with the famous rock and roll star, students participated in a virtual escape room to find Little Steven's missing guitar components and identify electric guitar shapes and features. Once all the components were found, the students described what it would feel like to perform on stage with their own guitar and a famous rock star. Then, they shared electric guitar designs they created and what inspired their designs with Mr. Van Zandt. Students explained that their guitars were inspired by musical genres, their favorite colors and musical artists; some of which included Van Zandt.
Opening up the classroom, students asked Mr. Van Zandt questions which engaged the students and provided insight into the famous musician's career, life as a civil rights activist and music education advocate.
The first student, Jadyn-Chanel Smith asked, "What inspired you to become a musician and play the guitar?" Mr. Van Zandt explained how The Beatles inspired him, "I saw the Beatles on television and was attracted to the idea of a group of people coming together to make music. At the time there were a lot of individual musicians, but the idea of a group of people and a friendship, just like a soccer team or a baseball team, coming together is what really inspired me."
With a successful career as a musician, Steven Van Zandt utilized his notoriety for change. Student Sean Webster thoughtfully asked about his work in South Africa during Apartheid, after a recent English language arts module on human rights. "What did you see wrong in your eyes that you had to protest on South Africa?" Mr. Van Zandt attentively responded, "At the time, in South Africa, it was a bad system where…the Black people were not allowed to vote. We joined together with other artists to bring attention to the world, and we were able to change it. Nelson Mandela, a famous world leader, we helped get him out of jail and he became president of South Africa and because of that, Black people can vote there. It was very important work. And it is important to always work for and fight for what is right in the world."
Addressing Mr. Van Zandt, superintendent of schools, Mr. Kishore Kuncham said
"Thank you for the work you are doing and have done across the globe. We are truly honored to have you here with us. More than ever, the world today really needs tremendous people in terms of addressing culturally responsive education and promoting social justice. You have been a pioneer in doing and promoting that through partnering with schools and using such a very powerful weapon and instrument to do so, which is music."
Additional questions from students ranged in complexity and topics.
Khalani Dixon asked, "During hard times what motivates you to keep working?" Mr. Van Zandt responded that the importance of working hard at one's craft, and how doing something one loves will create a positive experience and in turn positive energy to move forward. He reinforced to students that a craft, is not just playing a guitar it can be anything "being a painter, or a writer, a musician, something that fulfills you and satisfies you when things are difficult. And working on that craft will reward you in many different ways."
Closing the lesson, Mr. Van Zandt thanked the students for their insightful questions and commended them on their musical knowledge. He took the time to remind them of the importance of artistic thinking, "You are very lucky students. Your school system and your teachers are very encouraging of artistic thinking, which is one of the most important kinds of thinking in the world. Artistic thinking is your emotions and feelings. It helps you learn math and science and so many other things that are imperative to your growth as a student and a human being."