After a drastic move from Louisiana to Missouri his junior year due to his family’s military involvement, RBHS senior Noah James explained how music helped him through dark times. James is an active member in eight Rock Bridge band programs. However, his love for music goes beyond the RBHS band program as he plans to go to the University of Missouri for music education with an emphasis on instrumentation. James hopes to use his education to pursue teaching.
Pull quote: “I grew up in the military, so not to sound depressing, but everything has been a little chaotic and unpredictable, but music is never that way for me at least.”
Q: Tell me about growing up as a military kid.
A: “[Being a military kid is] an interesting experience. It definitely gets more difficult as you grow older because you develop deeper relationships with those around you. […] To be honest, it’s been really tough. There have been a lot of times where it has definitely negatively impacted my mental health. I think to a degree, it was a blessing in the long run because being able to be in a bad spot and know that it’s going to be okay, even though it’s upsetting now, has been really helpful. I know whenever I did move, I just tried to ‘fake it till you make it’ and act like everything is okay. […] I think as I moved around more and more, I sort of realized that there’s so much good stuff that can happen in bad times in your life. Even though I was upset, it’s admitting that I’m upset and saying like, ‘I’m here, this isn’t where I want to be, but this is where I am. How can I grow and find happiness through this moment instead of trying to live in the past?’ It’s been a really good skill [and] I’m very glad that I know it now.”
Q: What’s your favorite thing about the band program?
A: “Outside of all of the amazing opportunities [the RBHS band program offers], being able to [be a part of] such a [tight knit] community is so cool. I know when I first moved here, it was not easy being alone and not having that [system]. Once I got more involved with the band program, […] it really [did start to] feel like people I’ve known my whole life, even though I’ve known these people for about a year.”
Q: What got you into music?
A: “I know for my whole life, music has always been a really, really big thing for me. I remember in elementary school, I had a little cheap knockoff MP3 player and a pair of $20 headphones that I latched on to. I know for my life, music has always been a constant. I grew up in the military, so everything has [always] been a little chaotic and unpredictable, but music is never that way for me.”
Q: Is there a specific band or a certain genre that is your favorite or you cling to a lot?
A: “I would say for me, my favorite genre has to be jazz music because I think the art form itself is one of the most expressive out there. Being able to speak through the language of music–a universal language that [mostly] everyone can enjoy–it’s always such an immensely powerful experience to be a part of. […] For me, it’s hard to play [music] without it impacting every aspect of me, including my soul.”
Q: Is there a teacher who influenced you?
A: “In middle school, when I first really started playing jazz, I had a band director named Mr. Conrad. […] Because he was an amazing band director, he helped me grow a lot in music [specifically jazz, and in addition helped] me grow as a person as well. I think ultimately being a good person is always the most important part of [life] because [it tremendously impacts the people around us].”
Q: What is an album that puts you in a positive mindset?
A: “This isn’t an album, but I have a playlist. It’s a jazz playlist. It’s with me and my really good friend Seth Draughty, [whom I know from] Louisiana. It’s a jazz album that I’ve been listening to since sophomore year. And that album in particular always just helps me, it reminds me why I love what I do. Because ultimately, when you are involved [in] so much, it’s easy to become resentful because the thing you love is also causing you to feel negative things. But reminding yourself why you love what you love,just being able to feel the music and really spend time with it, it always helps [me out].”
Q: Would you say there was something that was a turning point for you that made you realize that you wanted to do music as a career?
A: “The more I kind of put it in practice, the more [I] realized [pursuing music as a career] is a foreseeable thing. I remember I talked to my band director, Mr. [Cooper] Smith, because there was a long time where I feared that I wasn’t qualified and that I wouldn’t be good enough to go into that field. When I first moved, it felt daunting because I was so unaware of the processes of music and like all the stuff it means to be a teacher. But as I got to be more involved, [with the band program] […] the small moments where someone asks how something works, and I can be there and help them through that helped me realize that [teaching people] is such a rewarding and really fun experience and [it was] something I want[ed] to pursue further.”
Q: I know you said you wanted to be a teacher. Do you know specifically what kind of teacher?
A: “In terms of age level, I’m really down with whatever. I have a class where I do an internship at Rock Bridge Elementary where I teach kindergartners and 5th graders. Honestly, that has been really fun. I used to think ‘there’s no way I [would teach at an] elementary school,’ but no, I’m not against it. […] I would either be a band director in a middle school or high school, or just a music teacher at an elementary school. Ultimately, I think it’s wherever God leads me.”
Q: Is there anyone who you think influenced you?
A: “Yeah, I’ve mentioned him earlier with the playlist, but his name’s Seth Droddy. When I first moved to Louisiana, that was also a pretty rough move. [It was rough] because I had been in public school my whole life and [after moving I started] going to a private school where everyone had grown up with each other and had known each other. It was such a small group, [it] was really hard. It [was] hard to [insert] yourself in that group. [… Droddy] has helped me so much in my relationship with God and my relationships with others, and I know I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for him […and the ] kindness that he showed me and his compassion and willingness to always be there. [He’s] why I feel such a strong desire to do [good] for all of those around me. […] So if I’m able to do [that], it’s amazing. I’m so grateful that I feel I have been able to do that [because of him].”
