A Star of Parents
Star Parent March 2012
Mrs. Judy Ford teaches music at Excell Academy, and she is the pick for Star Parent for the month of March 2012. Below is the conversation I held with Mrs. Ford.
Holland: How long have you worked in the Education environment?
Ford: I’ve been in this area a total of 14 years.
Holland: Is the Education environment always where you wanted to find yourself in your career?
Ford: No, not at first. I wanted to be an opera singer. I first studied vocal performance. When I was a little girl I used to sing to my eight dogs. My mother used to set up concerts for me to sing to my family and friends. She would set up a stage and curtain for my performance.
Holland: Now after 14 years in your career, how long do you feel that you will continue to teach music?
Ford:I will teach music until I retire.
Holland: What brings you the most joy when teaching music?
Ford: To see that I make a difference in at least one child’s life is very fulfilling.
Holland: When teaching children, what do you want your students to get out of music?
Ford: I want them to be exposed to multiple genres of music. They all know hip hop. I want them to be exposed to different types of music so that when they become adults, or go places in life they will have had some exposure to various types of music.
Holland: Tell me about your musical therapy and Special Education back ground.
Ford: When I was in college, I took a job as a respite care provider working with children with disabilities. I found out that I enjoyed l working with the children. I was also inspired to look further into working with children with disabilities. In my years of teaching Special Education, I realized that there is such a need for educators of color to assist our children who have been cited for low achievements. I want to help children with learning disabilities to increase their reading and math levels and to close the achievement gap one child at time.
My professor at Southern University suggested that I look into musical therapy. I decided to go back to school for my master’s in musical therapy. I also worked in a rehabilitation hospital & agency for children with disabilities.
Holland: If you had to sum up music in a short paragraph or phrase what would it be?
Ford: Music is certainly what philosophers have called a universal language. I feel that using the medium of music I can meet just about any student where they are. In 14 years of teaching music I have met only two students who said they did not like music.
Holland: What advice would you have for students who may be interested in going into the music Industry?
Ford: My advice for any student that may be interested in going into the music industry is for them to find out if they are going to sing or play a musical instrument. The also need to cultivate their gift and attend college to get to know the foundations of music.
I really do enjoy teaching music.
