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PEQUANNOCK - New school rocks out in township
(by Stephen Janoski - Staff Writer - December 02, 2008)
PEQUANNOCK - Randy and Laura Shamber, owners of the newly opened ShamRock School of Music in Pompton Plains, are out to do more in the township than make a buck. The Pequannock residents have taken a keen interest in helping out their community, participating in several local events as well as trying to improve the township’s music programs in their own way.
The ShamRock School not only sponsored the music stage at the Sept. 20 Ho-Down Family Festival, it also raffled off a brand new Washburn acoustic guitar and a free guitar lesson.
Master guitar instructor Vince Genella presented the winner, 11-year-old Anthony LeNeve of Pequannock, with the guitar at the Ho-Down.
“Anthony loved it,” said Laura Shamber. “He was thrilled and got himself a free lesson by winning.”
The Shambers also sponsored the stage at the Ho-Down, which provided a place for bands to play and gave a different look to the event that residents seemed to enjoy.
The ShamRock School has been open since Oct. 28 and has about 15 students taught by six teachers on staff. They provide instruction on nearly every type of instrument, ranging from guitar and piano to instruments found in school marching bands, such as woodwinds and drums.
Shamber takes pride in helping the local bands more than anything else.
“These kids get started in elementary school, then middle school, and the band directors simply don’t have time to give private lessons to everyone. They want to succeed, but don’t have the budget or the time. We’re trying to support them and help them in what they’re doing,” Shamber said.
James Riley, director of bands at Pequannock Township High School (PTHS), said that the more kids take private lessons, the stronger the band program will be.
“It’s a tremendous help. Any resource that we have that augments the education program is a big benefit to what we do,” Riley said.
Riley said that probably 10 percent of the 96 members of the band take private lessons.
“It’s not as many as should. When I came here, the demographic and the culture didn’t support taking private lessons, but I’ve noticed that tide is starting to turn,” he said.
Riley said that those who take private lessons are typically much further ahead in numerous categories, from being more confident technically to a better awareness of rhythm and location.
“In our curriculum, we’re supposed to have small group instruction, but my time is so taxed teaching the general courses that I don’t have much available,” said Riley, adding that he has asked for a full-time assistant director to augment the staff.
“That’s why this is such a big help. My time is so limited in terms of availability to work in a small group setting,” he said.
“We’re going to look into an arrangement with ShamRock. We’re happy to partner in any way to ensure the success of music education in Pequannock. As he gets things going here, we’re going to look into it,” said Riley.
Jeff Foth, band director at Pequannock Valley Middle School, could not say enough positive things about what the Shambers are doing for the community by offering a service that has previously been in short supply.
“This is a huge asset for us, because at the schools, we can only do group lessons. Some of these classes have almost 60 kids, and it’s impossible to give them individual attention,” said Foth.
“Having ShamRock right here, as a resource that the kids can walk to, is priceless to us right now,” said Foth.
Foth said that though none of his students are currently enrolled at ShamRock, the music department is beginning to advertise the private school to try and entice the students into taking private lessons that could benefit Pequannock’s music program for years to come.
He concurred that the difference between those who take private lessons and those who don’t is marked.
“Those that take private lessons end up being our leaders. It’s a huge difference on all levels. They’ll come in at the sixth-grade level and you can tell immediately who takes them and who doesn’t,” Foth said.
Foth said that there are nearly 275 kids in the band at PVMS, not counting the other music programs such as the choir and the music classes that students are allowed to take as electives.
“The talent is here, and it’s second to none. This is a piece of the puzzle that’s been missing. I hope we can support them, because with private lessons the sky is the limit here,” Foth said.
For more information on ShamRock School of Music, call 973-839-0100 or visit ShamRockSchoolofMusic.com.
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