It’s been a rough year for Cary Elementary District 26. Faced with budget woes, it’s been forced to make some deep cuts in programming and staff, and closing one middle school and one elementary school.  

Elementary and junior high dedicated art, music and physical education classes were eliminated last school year to help trim the budget – a difficult decision no one wanted to make.   

“We value our specialist teachers and hope someday to recover these dedicated classes,” said Briargate Principal Chad Nass and Deer Path Principal Thom Gippert, both former physical education teachers.  

But there’s some good news that’s changing the community’s tune about the state of music in Cary schools – and beyond. 

 
‘The Perfect Storm’

Tamara Jazwinski, a guidance counselor at Crystal Lake Central High School and former elementary school teacher who is friends with many laid-off Cary educators and parents of students impacted by the cuts, said she “couldn’t sit back” while the schools went without music.

A former cello player herself, and a mother of two boys whose lives have been enriched by music education, she knows firsthand music’s positive impact. 

By November 2010, she’d nailed down a solution.

With her sons’ positive experiences taking lessons at Consolidated Music of Barrington, she pitched the idea of bringing music education to Cary schools to Ron Swanson and Mario Licciardi, two of the shop’s instructors.

“We already had a great relationship,” Jazwinski said. “I saw how well Ron and Mario did with my own children and other students. I had faith in their capabilities.”  

With Jazwinski’s background in education and working within the public school system, Swanson and Licciardi’s performance and music instruction experience, and the lack of substantial music education in Cary, “It was the perfect storm,” Jazwinski said. “’Let’s do this!’ we all said.”  

“Teaching music combines my two passions – music and people,” added Licciardi, a recording artist who has been teaching music for 16 years. “As a local cause, I felt it was my calling to get involved with Tamara and Ron on this project.”  

Within a few weeks of organizing the proposal details, a pilot after-school music program – dubbed S.T.A.G.E. One Music – was pitched to Mary Dudek, former District 26 director of curriculum and instruction. “The story of S.T.A.G.E. One is about the community coming together and turning a hardship into a positive thing with a creative new idea,” said Jazwinski, who acts as an educational consultant to S.T.A.G.E. One Music.  

“In six weeks, we were incorporated, insured, had a logo, bank account, website donated by Christian Billen of Warmly Yours of Lake Zurich and our marketing program in place,” Swanson said. “We also wrote the S.T.A.G.E. One curriculum. It was intense.” 

“S.T.A.G.E. One found a niche to fill a void,” Gippert said. “I have to applaud them for how professional and organized they were when pitching the idea. We were impressed with them from the get-go. We all agreed to give them a shot.” 

The district’s confidence was well placed.  The February 2011 program kickoff featured S.T.A.G.E. One assemblies at Briargate, Three Oaks and Deer Path School. 

Swanson and Licciardi donated their services and several community members donated the rest of the funds. “The kids went nuts,” Swanson said. “It was great.”

“The assembly had a great turnout,“ Nass said. “We saw lots of parents happy and smiling. It was not your average school concert – they played Black Eyed Peas and other popular music. It was exciting.” 

“After the assembly, one student remarked, ‘There's music back in the school!’” Jazwinski recalled. “It brought a tear to my eye.”

The Approach 

With just a half of a school year under its belt, S.T.A.G.E. One has already accrued many successes in Cary schools and has learned a lot during this “crazy journey,” as Jazwinski calls it.

S.T.A.G.E. One offers a general music immersion after-school program at each elementary school/ junior high and guitar classes at the junior high. It also offers assemblies like the one at Briargate, which include performance, presentations and student participation that counts toward state music requirements for schools.

The after-school program is a hands-on music immersion course tailored for the elementary level and includes a general course that is continuous in development, interactive theory, rhythm and practice, plus a final performance at the end of each session.

“My son Troy loves rock music and guitars – he was so excited to start the program when it launched at Deer Path,” said Denise Manthey, whose son is going into third grade this fall. “The end-of-year concert was so exciting. The kids are so engaged – they feel like rock stars.”

Manthey admits it was initially painful when music was cut, but that S.T.A.G.E. One has been a thrilling music adventure for Troy – led by two dynamic instructors. “Mario and Ron have great personalities and style – the children are fascinated by them,” she added. “They offer a unique twist on music education.”

S.T.A.G.E. One’s approach is unique in that it addresses the basics of music theory, history and performance through rock and pop. “We make it relatable to kids by using songs they know,” Licciardi said.

“If I had access to drums and an electric guitar when I was in school, I would have jumped at the chance to get involved,” Gippert said. “S.T.A.G.E. One is exposing children to music that’s relevant to them, but also the history and theory behind it.” 

According to Swanson, certain modern pop and rock arrangements are objectively more sophisticated than certain classical or Jazz pieces.  “Who says rock and pop can’t be intellectual?” he added.

Cary schools appreciate that S.T.A.G.E. One has an open-door policy and invites parents to observe the program. “It’s a unique, fresh perspective,” Gippert said. “They’re bringing something different.” 

Guitar class, which will be offered to Cary Junior High students for the first time this school year, includes rhythm, theory and music history, basic chords, song repertoire, ensemble work, final performance and discounts on guitars and rentals via Consolidated Music.

Elixir Strings and D’Addario each donated more than $500 worth of strings and supplies for the school’s guitars. Other donations include guitar cleaning supplies from Planet Waves, and guitar picks and stickers from Martin. In the spirit of all the donations S.T.A.G.E. One has received, Ron and Mario plan on continuing to provide scholarships for students whose families may not be able to afford the cost of the program, and who have a strong interest in music education. 

The Next Phase for S.T.A.G.E. One

With great interest surrounding S.T.A.G.E. One in a short period of time, the program will definitely return to Deer Path, Briargate, Three Oaks School and Cary Junior High, and possibly enter into other schools. The founders agree this program could be taken nationally as the need for music education in schools continues to grow. Adding fine arts and performance arts to the roster is also on S.T.A.G.E. One’s radar.  

Another new addition to S.T.A.G.E. One is the Music for a Month program – a great way for local organizations to support art education in their community. Through Music for a Month,  a parent, teacher, community member, organization or local business can provide an in-school music program for a fee of $1,000 for the entire school. “The program would involve a combination of classroom instruction and an assembly to meet the state standards for a month of music education,” Swanson said. “It would be tailored to each school, and donors can specify which school they would like to donate to.  Several groups can donate together and recognition would be provided on S.T.A.G.E. One’s website.” 

As if the smiles on the faces of S.T.A.G.E. One parents and their little rock stars’ faces weren’t enough of a yardstick for S.T.A.G.E. One’s success, Nass and Gippert said should music return to the district, they’d still want to retain S.T.A.G.E. One as an after-school program.

“That really means a lot,” Licciardi said. “When you’re going into new territory, you never know how you’re going to be received. It’s great knowing we’re so valued.”  

For more information on how to support S.T.A.G.E. One Music or how your child can get involved, call 847-899-8224, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit http://stageonemusic.com. 
 

Sidebar

Why Music Matters

The mission to bring the arts to schoolchildren who are unserved or underserved is so important to S.T.A.G.E. One not just because of the enjoyment children receive from music, but the education and lifelong skills it provides.   

“Music is an invaluable contribution to the process of growth and brain development,” Jazwinski said. “Schools traditionally focus on left brain activities. Music and art education allows the left brain to continue to blossom, while encouraging the right brain to move forward in more creative thought. Creativity requires both sets of thinking. We need the left to come up with the ideas and the right to execute them.”  

Particularly when performing with a group, music is a team effort that requires communication and discipline.   

“Especially with the young generation’s focus on technology, I think music brings them back down to earth,” Licciardi said. “Playing together requires face-to-face communication in a time when most socializing is online.”  
 
 

Bios

Tamara Jazwinski

Tamara Jazwinski grew up in the Chicago-area Ukrainian community. Being a first-generation child of political refugees, she learned early on the importance of hard work and perseverance.

Her parents always put education as a priority – including the studies of Ukrainian, dance, art and music. She began playing the cello at the age of 8, playing throughout elementary school and eventually performing with the Loyola University Chicago Chamber Orchestra during her high school years.

Jazwinski graduated from Loyola University with a master’s degree in education and counseling psychology in 1993, having earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education in 1991.

She currently works as a guidance counselor at Crystal Lake Central High School. She has worked in both the private and public sectors of education, with all grade levels.

As the educational consultant for S.T.A.G.E. One Music, she brings a wealth of knowledge of school systems and educational planning. She is able to bring together her love and passion for music and education – helping make the gift of music accessible to all.

 Mario Licciardi

Mario Licciardi has been a professional musician since the age of 17. Born and raised on Chicago’s Northwest side, he understood from a young age the importance of community. This philosophy has helped him build and shape a successful and exciting career in rock ‘n’ roll. In addition to his works as an instructor/co-founder of S.T.A.G.E. One Music, Licciardi teaches electric and acoustic guitar and Rockstar 101 at Consolidated Music in Barrington. Licciardi has recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (Plain White T’s, Fallout Boy), as well as three-time Grammy award-winning producer Warren Riker (Michael Jackson, Run DMC, Evanescence, Fugees). He has performed at many notable venues in Chicago and the Midwest and is currently recording with his group Elston. Licciardi is a recent recipient of a President’s Volunteer Service Award for co-writing and developing the soundtrack for the Emmy-nominated documentary “A Future for Meher” with colleague Ron Swanson.

Ron Swanson

Ron Swanson, originally from Chicago’s northwest suburbs, has extensive experience as a guitar player and working musician. Being open-minded to all styles helps him relate to the current generation. Ron’s experience reflects the versatility of his taste. His performance repertoire includes rock, jazz-fusion, compositional improvisation and classical guitar. Swanson, while a working musician, earned his bachelor’s degree in music and classical performance in 2006.

Swanson shows students that they can play their favorite songs on any instrument through Popband 101 at Consolidated Music in Barrington. There, he also offers private lessons in acoustic, classical electric guitar, and self accompaniment while singing. He brings this knowledge to S.T.A.G.E. One Music, which he co-founded in 2010 with colleague Mario Licciardi and Tamara Jazwinski, whose boys take lessons with him.

He wrote and performed the soundtrack for the Emmy-nominated documentary “A Future for Meher” – a project Licciardi also contributed to. The story follows a young girl who, through the help of many volunteers, was able to receive care for severe burns she suffered as an infant.