Faces of Education
Music in his blood
While other teachers were relaxing and enjoying their time off, School District 47's music specialist Roy Carson had his nose buried in textbooks at the University of Victoria, working on his Masters degree.
Roy is a music specialist, or "music man" as his wife Shelly calls him. One look at the living room and you'll know why.
With a drum set plunked in the middle and a piano on the side, it's easy to see that this is a musical family. "It's not always here," says Roy looking at the drums. "It depends on what is happening--it moves around the house."
Roy was exposed to music at an early age. "We sang, played recorders. My dad is an audiophile. He knows the art form--he gave me the best foundation possible."
Roy was involved with all the musical activities in Powell River when he was growing up. "I was in the first boys choir at the Powell River Academy of Music." From there he moved to the youth choir and then the chamber choir. "I've sort of seen the evolution of that side of things."
He was fortunate enough to study under Charles Stowell and Travis McDonough. By Grade 8, Don James was teaching at Oceanview and Roy switched from flute to bassoon, the instrument he studied at university.
At Max Cameron, Roy had Jon Stromquist for band and Nancy Hollmann for choir. "There was a huge legacy there--a monstrous legacy, a powerful force in what was expected of kids. I got to experience a lot of very good musicianship."
Roy was also involved in the first International Choral Kathaumixw and will never forget the first visit from the Tapiola Children's Choir, from Finland.
Although he's always loved music, Roy knew he wanted to be a teacher at a very young age. "Ever since I was young, I've wanted to teach. I was good at seeing how people learn things, at figuring out all the little pieces that need to come together for people to learn."
And that, he says, is one of his best gifts.
"I can look at musical problems and solve them for people."
Apart from being good at music and teaching, Roy is enthusiastic and wants to share what he knows with others.
After graduating from the University of Victoria, Roy taught in Vanderhoof. What he lacked in experience in the early years he more than made up for in enthusiasm. He came back to Powell River to teach and then moved to Quesnel and then to Creston where he taught for 11 years before heading home again.
He teaches a variety of classes to Grades 6 to 12 students at Brooks and the elementary schools. He teaches guitar, jazz choir, band and an exploratory.
Roy has taught pretty much every music program in the district. "I've taught general music, you name it, I've pretty well seen it all."
Roy says he doesn't really have a favourite instrument. "I have the ability to play and what I play is always out of necessity."
When he's playing with his father Harold and sons, Eli and Steve, Roy plays the piano because that is what is needed. "If I'm playing with Walter [Martella], I'm the bass player."
Shelly interjects. "He plays every instrument."
The two younger Carson children are known for making music. Eli, 10, has been playing drums and piano since he was really little, and he now plays the flute. Steve, eight, started playing the saxophone when he was four. "It was just there and he just started playing it. We had to make modifications to his instrument because it was too big and heavy, but he was really driven to make it work," says Roy. "My oldest son Noah, 19, acts as a roadie for the various bands his brothers are in."
Although Roy grew up in Powell River, he returned home just five years ago.
"I moved here [the first time] when I was in Grade 3," says Roy, recalling that he went to JP Dallos and had Miss Martin as a teacher that year.
Roy's grandfather worked in the mill and his parents grew up here as teenagers.
His father Harold moved away to go to school at Washington University in Seattle and that was when Roy and his brother were born.
"We were up here all the time during the summer," Roy says. "Mom and Dad would vacate their place and take over the basement of my grandparents' home."
Roy loves it when music and magic come together with kids. This usually happens when kids are inspired enough to give up their own time, and after-school musical groups like Firestarters, Counterpoint or Duncan's Donuts are formed.
"You can't have the outside group without the inside group," he says, explaining about the after-school groups. "But that's where the magic happens. It's the most exciting and inspiring thing when kids give up their time freely and I give up my time to come and learn about music."
But that was last year. This year is a whole new year and it will bring its own surprises. Roy says there'll be another changing of the guard and there'll be some sort of jazz combo happening. It all depends on what students are inspired to do.
