Musician Jonathan Passmore, ’12, must shift gears from jazz band to choir rehearsals to extracurricular piano playing. From practice to performances, his talents serve not only as hobbies but also as ways to meet new people.
Passmore transferred from Clovis Christian at the beginning of the second semester, and immediately found his outlet in FC’s music program. He accepted the chance to take music classes since his former school did not offer such options.
According to Passmore, music has contributed to his smooth transition into a new school.
“It’s been nice coming here where they do music,” Passmore said. “It’s interesting to meet people here who have similar interests and talents that you can relate to more than others who have different interests.”
Music director Michael Ogdon says he has observed Passmore’s love for band and choir as a stimulus for building friendships. In addition, Ogdon has noticed Passmore’s motivation and talent in music.
“Jon has gotten to know people, which has helped him feel more confident,” Ogdon said. “He’s been able to acclimate to a new school and new people; it’s great to watch. I don’t worry about him growing musically because he’s got the drive to improve. He’s very bright and interested in what’s going on and in doing well.”
Like many musicians, Passmore’s love for music developed over time. Almost six years have passed since Passmore first picked up the alto saxophone. Although he was hesitant to begin, he soon grew to appreciate the instrument.
“In the sixth grade, my parents made me join band even though I didn’t want to,” he said. “The first year I really didn’t want to do much, but now I’m glad that they forced me. It didn’t take very long after I started to begin to like it.”
After Passmore discovered the alto sax, he soon picked up piano playing. As he has become more involved in band, he now wishes to exercise his talent on the piano. (A recording of him playing both instruments is available at the bottom of this article.)
“I’ve been taking lessons since seventh grade,” he said. “I haven’t done much performance stuff with that, but if I did, I would get on the piano rotation at the church. The person playing the piano or keyboard changes every week.”
Out of his encounters with various band directors, Passmore appreciates the challenges that Ogdon presents in his style of teaching.
“He doesn’t baby us, as in take a long time on certain parts,” Passmore said. “It seems like he rushes through it, but it also makes keeping focused more necessary. He makes us learn music on our own.”
During the weeks since Passmore’s arrival, fellow alto sax player Dana King, ’12, has observed his passion and drive for success. In the band environment, he shows care and responsibility to commit to his tasks, she says.
“Jon works hard and is really interested in whatever piece of music we are playing as a group,” King said. “His goal is to keep on improving, which is great motivation for a musician to have. He often thinks that he isn’t as good as the rest of the band, but in my opinion he is one of the best because he cares about sounding good, which is the first step for playing good music.”
Depending on the frequency of class, Passmore determines how much practice outside of school is needed. New and difficult pieces present him with a challenge to overcome, he says.
“At home, I don’t typically practice the music in choir unless I’m just walking somewhere and singing one of the tunes,” Passmore said. “For jazz band, I will practice if we get a new piece of music where the part I have is really hard and meticulous so I can get familiar with it.”
Though Passmore dislikes individual practices, he welcomes group rehearsals because they allow him to hear the sound of the entire band. He values the chance to understand music and enjoys the experience of performing.
“When you’re by yourself and you’re figuring out a part, it’s not as fun, because you don’t get to hear the full sound,” Passmore said. “Practicing at school I like better, because we get to put it all together. If I know the music, performances are very fun and enjoyable.”
Outside of school, Passmore has found a musical outlet at Sonrise Church, which he attends regularly.
“My church has a mini-orchestra, which I usually play in every Sunday with my pastor and other friends who play alto sax,” Passmore said. “I’ve been doing that since band ended in junior high for me. I like being able to preform on a regular basis.”
Because Passmore has dedicated time to music and come to love the activities, he hopes to continue his pursuits in the future.
“I plan to play my instruments and sing as long as I can, and find some way to use them later on in college and after college,” Passmore said. “I don’t want to drop them, and it’s a good skill to have.”
For more band profiles, read the Dec. 10, 2010 article, Percussionist supplies leadership, motivation.
