Chris Porter

OCTOBER 2011$5.00Brooklyn Center High School’sChris PorterCreating a Self-Fulfilling Prophecyof a great music programThe NAMM Foundation’s BestCommunities for Music Education• Report• Educator Roundtable• Behind the Scenes

UpCloseChristine PorterCreating a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of aGreat MusicProgramBy Eliahu SussmanChildren’s books are full of stories where by believing in somethingfantastic, it can be brought to life and become reality. Chris Porter’s musicprogram in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota isn’t any different. Armed withsome marketing savvy, a few contacts at a local music store, and a steelydetermination to provide outstanding musical opportunities for kids inthis gritty, low income suburb of Minneapolis, Porter has transformed thenearly defunct Brooklyn Center High School band program into a bustlingdepartment worthy of local, state, and national recognition.

“This program wasbuilt by marketing.”School Band and Orchestra, October 2011 33

“The Sound”as requested by you.You asked for the playability andsound of the early Otto Links.We listened.With structural changes bothinside and out, “the sound”of yesteryear has beenrecaptured.Recently, the Brooklyn CenterSchool District became a full-serviceCommunity School. Brooklyn Centerprovides free or low cost health care,dental care, and mental health care forall children in our school, district, andcommunity. Brooklyn Center HighSchool received federal funding inthe form of a grant to enhance existingprograms, and provide academicrigor through a combination of curriculumfocuses centered in the InternationalBaccalaureate Middle YearsProgramme, and a multi-dimensionalArts Magnet Program.Brooklyn Center High School hasreceived the Magnet School of ExcellenceAward for the past three yearsin a row, in part because of the exceptionalmusical opportunities it offersits students, as evidenced by the factthat 327 of the 738 students participatein the music program. This is afar cry from the 24 kids who wereenrolled in band when Chris came onboard a decade ago. The most recentaffirmation of her efforts came in Mayof 2011, when Brooklyn Center HSwas singled out by the NAMM Foundationas one of the “Best Communitiesfor Music Education” in America.To learn more about this remarkabletransformation, SBO caught upwith Chris Porter, who, in this recentinterview, talks about creating a selffulfillingprophecy of a great musicprogram, the steps she took to turnthat prophecy into a reality, and theongoing challenges of maintaining aprogram in a school that is strugglingfor survival amidst Statutory OperatingDebt.School Band & Orchestra: Howdid you end up at Brooklyn CenterHigh School?Chris Porter: I taught for twoyears at a school in rural Minnesota,and when I was offered the positionat Brooklyn Center High School, I wasthrilled to move back to the Twin Cities.When I arrived, I met a programthat was on the verge of extinction. Ahigh director turnover rate, massiveschool budget cuts, and a rising rateof severe economic challenges tookits toll on the program. The beginningband program was cut entirely, whichresulted in a very low level of participationin the bands and a very lowplaying level. The principal at the timehanded me my keys and said, “Builda band program.” I started out withonly 24 kids in the entire program anda few instruments that were older thanme.Otto Link Vintagefor tenor sax.www.jjbabbitt.comMouthpieces for clarinets and saxophonesSBO: So what was the first thingyou did to get the ball rolling in theright direction?CP: I assessed the situation andformulated a plan for bringing kidsinto the program. I recruited big-timethroughout the year within the school,but I knew that I had to start and workfrom the bottom up to build a strongfoundation. In the spring of my firstyear at BC, I took a few of my seniorband members down to the elementaryschool every day for 90 minutes duringmy prep and lunch time to implementan exploratory band curriculumthat I had developed. I used to work34 School Band and Orchestra, October 2011jjbSBO.indd 111/16/09 2:36 PM

at Schmitt Music during high schooland college, which, lucky for us, isright down the street from the school.Thankfully, Schmitt Music agreed tolet us use a bunch of instruments forfree during the exploratory program,so the elementary school kids couldtry out all of the different instrumentsand could make an informed decisionabout what they might want to play.That was the very beginning of howwe got the program started.The very next year, I had 85 seventhgraders, which is when we startband in this district, and none of themcould afford to rent instruments. Fortunately,Schmitt Music came to therescue yet again and a band directorfriend of mine let us borrow someinstruments that were not being usedat his school, which bought me sometime to write grants. I also developedpartnerships with the community, includingthe Rotary Club of BrooklynCenter, which has adopted the bandprogram and has been giving us fiveto thousand dollars annually. To date,they have donated over $35,000 to theprogram.“It’s super rewarding to stand here, take away thebarriers, and tell my kids, ‘You’re going to get good atplaying music,’ and then watch them do exactly that.”SBO: How does that compareto the funding you get from thedistrict?CP: The funding from the district issignificantly less than what I’ve raised.I did this with only the help of mykids, and later, once we were able toadd staff, with them, too. We wrotegrants, played, and put the word outthere. A low property wealth means agreater tax impact on residents of thedistrict. This, in turn, has made fundingthe district and its programs, difficultat times. The effort to pass anoperating levy to generate funds forthe school has not been successful inrecent years – the past eight attemptshave failed.SBO: Were you ever second guessingyour decision to come to aschool that needed so much work?CP: I saw the potential in the program.That’s my personality – I’malways looking to help out the underdog,and I knew there was the potentialhere; I just had to find the righttools to work with. I never regrettedmy decision to come here. I love thesekids. These are my kids and this is myprogram.SBO: Would you talk about how youwere able to leverage connectionsyou had made at a local musicstore?CONCERT BASS CLARINETHard rubber body that feels,responds, and sounds more likewood.Nickel-silver and power forgedkeys for durability, ease, andcomfort.Bore and tone hole placementdesigned to maximize tuningand eveness of scale.5 year limited lifetime warrantyPRO QUALITY BASS CLAINETWITH LOW C.(WITH LOW C)SCHOOL PRICEUNDER $3000Universal Melody DistributionDallas, Texas 75247www.universalmelody.comContact: raywindt@universalmelody.comRidenour products are available from reliable school music dealersSchool Band and Orchestra, October 2011 35

Brooklyn Center High School At a GlanceLocation: 6500 Humboldt Ave. N.,Brooklyn Center, Minn.On the Web: www.bcband.comStudents in School: 738Students in Instrumental Music: 206Band Director: Chris PorterEnsemblesBeginning Band: 60 6th & 7th gradersHigh School Band: 45 9th – 12th gradersIntermediate Band: 45 studentsElectronic Music: 36 studentsJazz Ensemble: 40 studentsOrchestra: 16 studentsInstrumental Studio: (varies)Recent Accomplishments2011 Best Community for Music Education(NAMM Foundation)2009 Featured on NBC affiliate KARE-11’s “What’s Cool in School” segment.2008, 2005 BC Jazz Band featuredtwice on KBEM Jazz FM’s “Inside theFuture of Minnesota Jazz.”2006: Honored at the “Grammys onthe Hill” event in Washington DCand awarded the Grammy SignatureSchools Enterprise Award ($15,000 donationfor new instruments). From 750applications, only two schools werechosen for this honor.★★Recognized several times in theCongressional Record by representativeBetty McCollum and congressmanJim Ramstad.★★Recognized with a Senate Resolution.★★Recognized with a House Resolution★★Recognized by a Mayor’s Proclamation.★★A flag was flown over the UnitedStates Capitol in honor of the BrooklynCenter High School Band. CongressmanRamstad presented theflag to the band at BCHS, and it nowhangs on the wall in the band room.CP: I worked at Schmitt Musicthroughout high school and college.It really helped to have those connections.Yamaha also helped out a lot, aswell. I studied a lot of marketing in college,and I did an internship with theYamaha Band & Orchestral Division,and that really opened up a lot of contactsfor me, too. It’s all about who youknow and who you can try to get tohelp. People do want to help; you justneed to find the right people to ask.I called one of my contacts there andsaid, “Hey, I have all of these marchingdrums but I’m missing a ton of tensionrods, but don’t have any money in mybudget,” and he said, “No problem.”and sent me what I needed. I’ve beenvery fortunate to be able to use theconnections that I’ve made over theyears.SBO: You’re illustrating the importanceof marketing in schoolprograms! Speaking of marketing,your school was named one of thisyear’s Best Communities for MusicEducation. How have you used thatto your advantage?CP: This program was built bymarketing. For example, before wehad anything, I went down to the elementaryschool and sold those kidson the idea we had, hyping it up andpresenting how great it was. “Hey, it’sthe biggest band in 35 years!” even ifwe only had 40 kids participating. Or,“Oh wow, we needed two buses insteadof one this year – see how greatIN THE HECKEL TRADITIONABS body that’s durable andlightweight.Power forged nickel-silver keysfor durability and playingcomfort.22 keys made in the Heckeltradition.2 bocals.Extra plateau key, easilyconverted, that’s included forthe wing joint 3rd finger hole tosolve reach problems for smallhands (if needed).Full German key system witha High D key.BASS O O N SSCHOOL PRICEUNDER $3000Universal Melody DistributionDallas, Texas 75247www.universalmelody.comContact: raywindt@universalmelody.comSchott products are available from reliable school music dealersSchool Band and Orchestra, October 2011 37

that is?” And the Grammy Foundationthis, the NAMM Foundation that, itmakes everyone really excited to be apart of it. It validates the expense forour sponsors and it’s all another toolwe can use. I haven’t had a chanceto do much with the BCME awardbecause I’ve been too busy trying toget my program up and running toreally market it yet this year, but themore positive attention you can bringyour program, the better. This tool isa prime example of something that Ibelieve in, which is the self-fulfillingprophecy. You tell everyone how greatit is, you make it happen, and then allof sudden everyone says, “Wow!” Thekids start believing it, playing withmore heart and practicing harder.Even though the band wasn’t great atfirst, they were really into it and theyhad a ton of drive. People saw that,saw how it was growing and really fellin love with the program.SBO: Where do you see the programdown the line – what are yourgoals?CP: Right now I’m fighting tokeep the program alive. We’re avery low-income district, and ourschool hasn’t been able to pass a referendumoperating levy for the pasteight years, so there are cuts andwe’re battling. This year, the schedulingisn’t giving me much contacttime with my students, actually,hardly any time at all. However, I’malready able to provide an instrument,free of charge, to every singlestudent in the district, in grades sixthrough 12. Every music book, everydrumstick, every drop of valveoil – everything is for free and therefaxxWhat you want from a mouthpieceConsistencyAvailabilityEconomyYou CAN have it all, in the mostpopular models, facings and cupsfaxx - Your Next Mouthpiece!American Way MarketingPh: 1-800-331-0664 Fax: 1-574-293-9888email: info@awmllc.netwww.americanwaymktg.comQuality InstrumentsThat YourSchool andStudentsCan AffordWe are one of the leading suppliers ofband and orchestra instruments to schoolsand music dealers throughout the United States.We offer a full line of brass, woodwind, orchestraand percussion instruments designed andcrafted to educational standards.For a list of dealersin your area, or a catalog contact:schools@huntermusical.com by email or call.We respond to all school bids through local dealers.Samples are available for evaluation.Hunter Music Instruments3300 Northern Boulevard, Long Island City, NY 11101(718) 706-0828 Fax: (718) 706-0128www.huntermusical.com38 School Band and Orchestra, October 2011

is no rental, as long as kids take careof their instruments and respect thegreater good. I do always reservemy rights to repossess instruments,as needed! [laughs] Now, the next step is to try toincrease the level of musicianship.The level of musicianship in anyprogram reflects that program’sresources. My kids did well, givenwhat we had, but we chose to takeit to the next level. I recently had agreat student teacher and now havea great colleague with the same visionand mission. We worked literallyday and night to see if givingthese kids what the affluent schoolkids got in terms of materials andlessons and personal attention wouldresult in comparable levels of musicianship.And you know what? Itdid. It totally blew me away. You alwayshear, “Oh, if we only had this,or if our kids just had that.” Well,we gave it to them, and they totallystepped up and recognized their owngrowth. That is a direction I wouldlove to continue to go in.SBO: Believe it or not, somepeople who read this might cringe.Many believe that music and artsprograms should all be funded bythe district and that educatorsshouldn’t have to be out there beggingand borrowing like you havebeen. And if your program provesit can be self-sufficient, districtfunding might never return.CP: I understand what you’re saying,but at the same time, I can’t standon the sidelines and watch things fallapart. In this case, there is no money inthe district, for anything, really. I washired by the district to give our studentsGREENLINE OBOEWood/resin body that soundsand feels like wood, yet is moredurable.Power forged nickel-silver keysfor strength, durability, ease,and comfort.Full conservatory system with3rd octave key, F# key tab, anda lefthand F vent key forsmoothness and balance.5 year limited lifetime warrantyPRO QUALITY STUDENT OBOE.SCHOOL PRICEUNDER $2000Universal Melody DistributionDallas, Texas 75247www.universalmelody.comContact: raywindt@universalmelody.comTriebert products are available from reliable school music dealersSchool Band and Orchestra, October 2011 39

the best possible instrumental music experience,and I will work to do just that.Eventually, that will make the programan important asset in the building andif they cut too much, people will startto get upset. I’m just hoping to weatherthe budget storm right now, and witha little luck, hopefully it will improve.I guess, just do the best with what youhave and the better it gets, the morelikely it is to be supported, and hopefullyfunded; however, balancing moneyfrom the school and finding moneyto make ends meet can be extremelyfrustrating. SBO: Amidst all of these challenges,what keeps you going asan educator?CP: It’s all about the kids. I get somuch satisfaction from seeing them reallystep up and get involved. I havemy kids for six or seven years in aBack to schoolsavings on the best brandsonly at Music Factory Direct.Great names likeYamaha, Gemeinhardt, Blessing,Vento, Roy Benson and more.Call now 1-888-368-7770or visit musicfactorydirect.com nowrow. That’s a long time to be a partof one person’s life. I just so happenedto hit the birth lottery better than alot of these children did. I didn’t doanything special for my parents to beable to rent me a trumpet. So for me,it’s super rewarding to stand here, takeaway the barriers, and tell my kids,“You’re going to get good at playingmusic,” and then watch them do exactlythat.SBO: Do you have any advice forband directors who are up againstthe wall fending for themselves?CP: I don’t like to give advice, as everysituation is unique; however, the onething that comes to mind is one of mycatch phrases I’ve used often over theyears: “If you don’t advocate for andmarket your program, who will?” Thatpretty much sums up my belief systemwhen it comes to this. It’s not easy tobuild a program and even with all of the“Forrest Gump-like” successes my programhas experienced, it still is no matchfor the power of outside influences, attimes. Case in point, I’m seeing signs ofmy program literally dying and becominga victim to scheduling issues. Thisis above and beyond the usual transientrate of 35 percent for the school populationannually. All we can do is hope toweather this most recent storm and, likealways, figure out a way for good to prevail.The kids deserve it. It is, however,extremely exhausting protecting the bordersof our little self-sufficient nation ofBC Band Land and protecting those kidsfrom all of this. They have more thanenough to deal with; the least we can dois give them a consistent, positive, musicalenvironment. They need it. We all do,and that’s why we all do this.40 School Band and Orchestra, October 2011