Chapter twenty
Television debut
Cancelled six-month plan to march Mardi Gras
On again-off again
The work began to get too difficult to be safe and consistent. I began to think it might be too difficult to march so soon. I told students we would not march in March for the upcoming
Mardi Gras parades. They agreed safety first. I said my second con- cern is to be able to teach music theory and note reading. I said we can take the building and development time as an opportunity to do this right. Preparing to march in six months is rushing it. We should plan to march in the next school year.
Also, to the students, I said it’s up to you to take on the challenge and work hard to make it possible to march in six months. I told them it’s their responsibility to do what it takes to march. I’m here only to guide them in the right direction.
Well, Fidelity Investments-the people with the “Follow the Green Line” television commercials-and Mr. Holland’s Opus donated $30,000.00 worth of band instruments to the school.
The school band performed for the first time in the basement for 100 students, abc26 News and the Times-Picayune. The script was laid out by Fidelity and everything was perfect. I like the way they gave everybody something to say. The students reacted to it very well.
Gary Robichaux spoke first. He gave the family very good compliments. He addressed me as having taught at 15 schools in New Orleans and a member of the Batiste Family. I was surprised when he said the school was named after our family and was dedicated to the memory of my mother.
The audience of approximately 100 students at Batiste Academy sat quietly as the program went on. The band played the scale as a warm-up and the crowd applauded. We got a wonderful reception when we played the cadences featuring Ryan Batiste, L. C. La Flore and Krishawn Keasley on snare drum. L. C. is the student whose mother was in my class at Phillips Elementary. Keasley is the little girl who is with me in the Times-Picayune in 2009. Both students did a great job considering the short time we had to make the presen- tation. One gentleman from Fidelity said if we did that in 3 weeks, just think of what we could do in three months and more. Fidelity surprised the students with a gift of band instruments for the school. The program ended with the band marching out of the basement where the program was held.
After we marched all the way up to the band room, they called me to the basement for an interview with abc26 News. The TV personal- ity did a great job and was excited about the prospect of us marching in a first-ever parade.
The schedule I received from Ms. Kim Reilly of Fidelity was to go to the Hilton Hotel to march for the CUPA convention in Salon, AD. The entire experience was magnificent for the students and me. We marched in the exhibit area to “Grunk” and when we got to the main stage, we stopped. John was the speaker with a great script for the audience of Human Resource Departments of universities from all over the country. He called me up to speak and tell what we were going to play. I said with all the disasters New Orleans has experi- enced the non-profits have taken us from in the storm to out of the storm. Also, 6-5-4-3-2-1 and I don’t know if we will be ready to march by Carnival season, but we will try. Someone in the audience said, “You can do it.” I said the name of the song we are going to play is “All The Way.” We played the cadence and in the middle of the song, I encouraged Ryan and he did a solo to a rousing round of applause.
Afterward, they invited all the children in the band to meet with the conventioneers. That’s where I met the woman from Princeton who said the cost to go to Princeton is $50,000.00, but she could get students in for free. After she left me, she came back and my stu- dents spoke to her. I got cards from at least 8 people in Human Resources from universities.
The next day, when I went to work, I was called and told I was on TV. The night before, I didn’t see it on the news, but as I walked to the band room, students called me in Ms. Camacks’ class to see it on the internet. We looked at the news and as I looked at the band on TV, the students looked at me to see my reaction. Afterwards, I started to clap and the whole class clapped. When I walked out of the door a little girls asked me, “How it feels to be on television?” I said, “It feels great to see our school on TV.”
It was the first time I saw the students I’d pick to be interviewed on TV. Crashad Conner was very articulate in his delivery to let the television personality know he is in band to get a scholarship from Southern University. He said he is in band for that reason. After he spoke, Audrey said she wanted to go to Juilliard and explained it’s a college for musicians. I was so proud to be a part of students like these.
With only having seen my band students for three weeks, the Batiste brand had started 19 beginning band students capable of per- forming on their instruments to the level of performing for Fidelity. The band is well on its way to being capable of marching in a parade. As I said for abc26 television interview, the bottom-line is standard- ized tests and perhaps we will march in the first ever Mardi Gras pa- rade in six months. Starting a band for parade season is small compared to the benefit of the discipline and education involved in the process.
Also, it is a great idea to motivate everybody using benchmarks and goals like a parade in six months, but there’s only a small window to recruit students for band. Then—during the start up process—it’s necessary to teach in an unorthodox manner. Once the band is started, we’ll be able to teach in a more traditional way. The perform- ances we are doing are important to the donors who in turn give us the band instruments.
Band practice is in full swing and students are learning fast. We drill on precision and routines in the band room. One of the exercises is left foot forward (1) point the toe (2) lift the left knee high (3) toe down and (4) feet flat on the floor. We continue with the right foot. When we mix left face, right face with marching 8 to 5, the practices take shape and life. Therefore, I build a foundation for fu- ture marching musicians.
I feel the same as Kid and Clyde. Marching is not my first prefer- ence to teach young musicians. On the other hand, marching is an avenue to accomplish getting instruments, school spirit and pride. Also, one deals with sufficient numbers of children participating in healthy activities. Once engaged, a child will have opportunities to make decisions on how to approach music. In the past, some of my former students—after marching—decided to go to NOCCA and pursue a career in the Arts. That’s why I expose them to discipline and fundamentals which transfer to the proper value system.
Today, I met with Jamal, Ryan and Kristopher and I continued to tell them how important it is for us to be organized-complete with cues, signs and signals. These tools will serve us well in the future when identifying and extinguishing problems. One thing in particu- lar is learning when to have full band or whole lessons and knowing when to have breakouts or sectionals.
They are learning fast, but they have a long way to go. I think back to when I started out as a teacher, it was a great honor, but it was very difficult. Conversely, I am their uncle who is more than willing to share all of my skills with them. Just as I did with being the leader of Batiste Brothers Band®, I’m doing it these days with education.
Sometimes, they get a little anxious and ahead of themselves, but they recover nicely. Well, besides teaching students, I am also teaching my nephews. I do so with pride and the continued message my mother often preached, “Go out there and help them, Paul.” I am more than willing to work as hard as necessary to carry out my mother’s wish. I have been on the same page as my mother since birth.
The decision to slow the paste of developing the band by announcing scratching of the timeline was more on point than I knew. I am now beginning to feel the back pain and Sciatica. The shot I took a few weeks ago seems to have worn off. It’s interesting what adrenalin can do. The excitement of my job helped me work through the pain. When I settle-down at night, my back and leg throbs. The numbness and tingling is persistent, but I bare it to serve the children. I have an appointment with the neurologist on Friday. We’ll see what he says.
At band rehearsal this week, a woman stood at my door for about fifteen minutes. One of my nephews stuck his head in the door for the woman and was amazed at what he saw. He didn’t say anything at the time, but later he said he saw “Shades of St. Augustine.”
The woman was a former student of mine. Tara Domino had come to band practice to tell me her son was a third grader and is in the band. She told me his name and I said I was glad she visited with me and told me about her son. The next day, I met—her son—Brett. He was an unusually bright child, but when he auditioned, I could immediately observe his talent on the drums. Brett’s mother said when he’d listen to the commercial about the school-he’d constantly ask her if he could come to Batiste Academy.
She was the third parent and forth former student I’d seen at Batiste Academy in less than two months, and students are telling me their parents and grandparents know me and my family. After a long career in teaching, it’s expected. Nonetheless, it’s appreciated and honored by me. God has blessed me to have had a long serving relationship with the New Orleans Region’s people.
Now, I’m sure I made the right decision to not retire and continue to serve the citizens of New Orleans. Similarly, it’s a continuation of my teaching experience. As well, I reach another 200 children this year and help keep them off the streets. The only street they’ll see will be for marching on them, and playing music. I pray for the pa- tience to guide these children safely in my endeavor to educate them.
At last, the oil well has been capped. Finally, we can relax. After months of being terrorized by the fear of oil going right up to our door step, I now believe the oil has been shut down, but the quiet climax leaves room for questions still. How much damage has been done and are their health consequences? Could it be that the same slow disaster that brought the well on is continuing in another way?
Meanwhile, the marching band is getting much attention. We were asked to participate in a battle of the bands with Wright. The person who invited us didn’t know I started the band at Wright. Now, I was being asked to compete against the band I started. I explained to the band members it takes more than a month or two to put a band to- gether, and by November we will be done putting our band together.
I like the spirit of the band to want to be up and running before it’s done, but we truly have an opportunity to do this the right way. Rushing the development of the band would cripple students for life. They would think, “Easy” is the way things are done. Easy is not sim- ple. If one thinks its easy, one is misled. My students and parents have to resist the urge to come out and perform in public, too soon. Similarly, I pray for the wisdom to know when it is time.
The band is in a pre-band level. This level is lacking tradition. I am installing a foundation. Students have a tendency to be impa- tient. This level requires discipline and dedication. It’s easy to be satisfied with small successes when previously there was no program at all. Well, everybody is excited, but they don’t know what difficul- ties exist ahead of us.
I have been fortunate to have help from Coach, Ms. Jones and oth- ers from my past teaching experience, but now, I am all by myself. I am the only experienced person in the band room. However, the as- sistance they gave was invaluable. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. With the start I have, hundreds of students will benefit from their help, and students will gain for years to come.
Today, I spoke to the neurosurgeon and he said since the pain has returned, he has to give me another shot. This time, instead of shooting me in the nerve, he’ll shoot me in the joint for greater relief.
Young people should know, entertainment or education is a diffi- cult career to pursue, but if you are dedicated, honest and hard working, it can give one access to the gift of music and a livelihood.
It’s all good; I’m excited about receiving the trademarks for the Batiste Brand. I now own the trade names Batiste Brothers Band®, The Batiste Family®, Batiste Family International School® and Batiste Cultural Arts Academy®. I should be receiving the certificates in November or December.
Interest in the brand has gotten us this far and there’s growing interest every day. My next major product will be this book.
In addition, I’ll do projects like concerts, workshops and festivals. My plan is to produce these events with the money I make teaching. The concerts will be at local night clubs. The workshops will be at the Batiste Academy and the festivals will be at Batiste.
The idea is to jump start these areas that have in recent years de- clined. By investing my own money, I hope to employ friends, family and the underserved community.
Meanwhile, the excitement is growing at BCAA. The marching band was invited to play at Dillard University’s Homecoming Parade. However, I didn’t think we were ready to march in a parade. Also, we will be playing for awards day at BCAA and City Year invited us to play for their volunteer reception.
The band is coming along fine. We have much work to do. So far, it has been worth it. I can see the same results I recently saw at Wright. Teachers are coming to me and asking me to help with the discipline problems and I have spoken to several students on behalf of teachers, and I hear compliments about the band everyday. People are saying the band is changing the culture of the whole school.
Some family members are saying they want to rally around my ef- forts at the school. I’m glad to hear they understand my personal sacrifice. At age 60, I can easily walk away from this and retire to a modest retirement salary and gigging. On the other hand, I have an opportunity to giveback and help hundreds of kids and my family at the same time.
Amazingly—in just a few short months—I have started a middle and elementary school band. The middle school is made up of mostly 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Of the middle school, there are two that
can read music. Roddney Pierre—an 8th grader—plays the sousa- phone and previously had lessons. His skills are impressive, but his manner and attitude are even greater. Character could be his middle name.
Today—Orleans police officer—Lisa Augustine came to my class and I asked her to speak to my students. She is the security for the school. Her background in law enforcement makes her a knowledge- able person. Her speech was great. Lisa talked about the parade and asked if any student ever saw a horse in the parade. The students an- swered, “yes.” Then, she made the analogy of horse droppings on the parade route that people try to avoid, but she said some of your friends are making droppings and you are stepping in it.
All of these people are taking part in a history making event. Everyone notices the impact the band is having on children. We are working with two schools and students from Sci-Tech are trying hard to get to Batiste Academy. I am working as hard as I can to facilitate the schools. I am now working on a plan to get 3-5 grade enrolled in the band from Sci-Tech. I am going to send a survey to find out how many musicians have prior experience in music.
This weekend, I cooked breakfast for my Dad. He said it was God sent. He said he was thinking about me this morning and when I walked in the house he thought it was one of his dreams. He said, “Paul, I dream a lot.”
Batiste Cultural Arts Academy Marching Band
On yesterday, we played for the first Awards Day program. Students loved it. They showed it with a rousing round of applause, and one of the teachers complimented me on how the students had only recently been introduced to instruments and are already performing well. After thanking her for the comment, I thought to myself it’s nothing new. People look at students who they often see behaving in an unbe- coming way in their class, but behave well on stage. They see a complete turnaround in their behavior once they join band, and in this particular case, it happened in two months.
