Photograph by Caleb Kenna
Ron White
MCMC has been sustaining a thriving musical community for the past ten years. Integral to the success of this vision has been the phenomenal and passionate teaching artists who have made MCMC their musical home. In celebrating a decade of this community, we are excited to share stories of talented instructors like Ron White, and his journey through music that led him to MCMC.
Ron hails from Texas, where he taught music in the Richardson, Dallas, College Station, and Klein Independent School Districts. Ron found immense pride and satisfaction in witnessing the transformational potential of music education in spaces where resources and interest were scarce. What impressed him most was how music education encouraged a culture change that extended beyond the classroom, and led to students taking pride in their musical abilities.
After his successes in Texas, Ron came to Vermont as a music educator and freelance musician looking to form a musical community in a new state. MCMC offered him support with the administration and advertising of his private lesson studio as well as new opportunities like running camps and workshops. But most importantly, MCMC brought Ron into a community of other highly talented faculty that he could collaborate with and learn from. Ron reflects that “for a little town… to have the faculty that it does, is really remarkable.”
Ron sees his private lesson teaching as a celebration of little victories as much as it is the big accomplishments. MCMC reflects this approach in its welcoming attitude to students of all ages and skill levels. Watching a young student who had been struggling with electric bass technique arrive at her lesson one day with the correct form was a recent cause of celebration for Ron.
Ron observes how the MCMC community has fundamentally transformed since the early days of the organization. In his words, it “went from being just a group of music teachers that needed a space to teach to a real institution.” By forming systems, procedures, and a community ethos and identity, MCMC is growing beyond its founding members into something that is sustained by students, teachers, and community members alike.
In its new role as community hub, MCMC provides a meeting space not only for potential students and instructors, but for music professionals looking to foster community around their craft. In this way, Ron helped shape the community that he envisioned when he moved to Vermont. Beyond just professional support, the musical focal point that MCMC has created sustains a growing and shifting community of artists and collaborators.
Ron observes of this network that “when you make sure that more people are involved in leadership and making decisions… it really becomes much more of a community.” Teachers are encouraged to take increased ownership of the organization, by leading workshops and summer camp programs for example, and their care and commitment is reflected in the increased participation of students and other faculty. Ron is excited about the opportunities suggested by such participation.
One of the opportunities presented by this growing community is the chance to increase partnerships with public schools. Ron sees this as a potential area where MCMC could provide support and impact in the musical lives of more young people. Additionally, he sees MCMC’s mission of providing financial support to families in need as a necessary element of any holistic approach to music education, and one that increased partnerships with public schools could help to address.
This vision for the future of MCMC is grounded in Ron’s belief in the transformative power of music. “The relationship between a private instructor and a student,” he says, “it’s almost spiritual. There’s a bond that happens.” This relationship on the level of an individual student and teacher is also reflected in the potential for music to bring people together more generally. “There are those transformational moments in communities when you really do have different socio-economic groups coming together…. [Music] can be a really great equalizer in our community.”
Growing the community and reaching underserved populations connect Ron’s experiences as a public school music teacher with the vision and mission of MCMC. As part of what Ron now proudly calls “an institution,” the talents and passions of the faculty, students, and community can be harnessed more inclusively and effectively in the pursuit of these goals.