Band Teacher Hits High Note With Students

Jeremy Chung is generating a great deal of excitement with his music. Whether he’s conducting the award-winning Lawrence Middle School Concert Band or performing with the Trash Can Trio at Disneyland, young people and adults alike are eager to be a part of it.

The 26-year-old music teacher said the satisfaction of encouraging young music enthusiasts is enough to propel him out of bed every morning.

“My job at Lawrence has totally changed my life,” Chung said. “I don’t even consider it a job. I look forward to going to work every single morning.”

Chung’s enthusiasm for his work has not gone unnoticed at the Chatsworth school. Since he joined the staff three years ago, enrollment in his band classes has swelled from 19 students to the 250 young musicians he will teach this fall.

In response to the demand for his classes, the Lawrence Middle School Band Booster Club, along with the student body and administration, raised enough money to buy more than 70 musical instruments. That more than doubled the school’s supply.

Money has also been raised to help offset the cost of sending the 80-member concert band to music competitions. Those involved say the fund-raising efforts have been worth it.

“Jeremy has brought a spirit and quality to the school through the development of this music program,” said Assistant Principal Brenda Winters. “He has extremely high standards, which the kids admire and aspire to.

“His classes aren’t for the faint of heart; he’s strict, so they have to want to perform,” Winters continued. “They come out of his classes with a high level of confidence, and they are impressed with how good they have become.”

Chung, who grew up in Hacienda Heights and earned his bachelor’s degree in music education from USC, said he is a high-energy person who is happiest when he’s teaching and performing.

Six years ago, as a college student, Chung landed a job as a drummer in Disneyland’s annual Christmas parade. He still performs at the theme park during winter breaks and every summer as a member of the Trash Can Trio, which gives Chung a chance to show off his percussion skills with trash can lids and buckets.

Chung, who will complete a master’s degree in music education at USC in May, helped lead his concert band students to first place at a Disney World music festival in Orlando, Fla., last spring. The group also received the highest rating in last year’s Los Angeles Unified School District music festival.

“I want the kids to learn to play music and learn to love it,” Chung said. “This is not about winning festivals, it’s about improving themselves. Like mastering a sport, they practice and get good at playing, and they grow to love it.”

EVENTS

Animated: Glendale Community College is showcasing its animation program Saturday and Sunday at AniFe ‘98, a free animation festival at Burbank’s Media City Center mall. Displays, activities and animation workshops will be available. For information, call (818) 842-8330.

Studying Software: Burbank Adult School is offering a two-day computer seminar in PowerPoint, a software program that is used for business presentations. Registration for the class, which runs Aug. 27-28, is now open. For information, call (818) 558-4611.

Class Notes appears every Wednesday. Send news about schools to the Valley Edition, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311. Or fax it to (818) 772-3338. Or e-mail them to diane.wedner@latimes.com.