Elijah Langille on Encore Night with Elijah Langille, the Music Director at Barnstable High

and I were in a entrepreneurial book club where Stephanie never read the right book and Stephanie was terrible at this book club I really Su at book club I did not fabulous I'm what I just had a visual proud of it hello hello and good morning on a Monday Elijah thank you so much I know being in uh Academia and uh dealing with Monday mornings can also be tricky tricky for all of us on a on a Monday but more so when you have a lot of teenagers but so I don't know how parents do it right I've only got one left at home and it's kind of nice but I can only imagine what he's like at school that's why I have two dogs you know they they're happy to see me and then they go back to sleep you're safe so we've got Elijah L and you're the music director at barnable High School yeah yeah my the the official title is the Performing Arts director for for grades six through 12 and I have a counterpart over at the our elementary schools and we do all things performing um in barstable and you might even hear on while we're talking right now there's a chorus class going on the other room and they're doing some Alexander Hamilton stuff so it's yes there's always something going on how do you choose your programming I mean there's so many fun things out there do you let the kids dictate Sometimes some of the things that they're interested in well you have to you have I mean if if kids are excited about doing something you have to harness that energy now with parameters right with all like everything with with kids you know you give them parameters or you try to kind of guide them because you never know what they're gonna say or bring up but a lot of times they'll they'll come up and they almost have their old their business plan and they say we you know we've been talking we've all voted and I'm like wow I didn't realize this was a democracy but yeah it right I can only imagine the things that you hear good morning Miss Angie thanks for joining us on the show we've got Elijah from barstable high school here and he's just talking about some of the programming and the performance arts department and you got a big show coming up yeah yeah we do um I'm really excited about our our Encore night um the coolest thing about this was that we were this was before Christmas time we have this really growing program right we're one of the few programs on Cape cot and actually in m Massachusetts um that has a growing performing arts program right and um we were we were all talking and we we have this cool rock band class that kind of has just happened and and they're actually really good like I was talking to our the director of that group and I said these kids actually sound good I like I know you know this is amazing so you know we were talking we have also an amazing music production program where kids are making beats doing recording and um we've actually had a lot of alumni coming back recently some who are are producers in La who are flying over and doing some really cool music on Cape cot and around the country and we were saying how do we how do we showcase this and then at the same time I get a phone call in this office and it was the mark Hennessy Foundation reaching out saying hey you know we've never talked before but we're this and this this is our mission I didn't know about them the great work they do on Cave Cod they said you know what is there any way we can help you and I was like is this you know where are the cameras here you know I'm being I'm being punked you want to give me money and help me exactly yeah you likely story right usually people just want to donate their old pianos to us which is fine too I understand that but it's like usually they like well you'll have to climb five flights of stairs and you know get Dam pianos we are we are thankful that people think of us but you know it's it's it's funny so no they they came in you know everyone Mark Hennessy and we we had just a really great conversation and this Encore night is going to be mix our rock band classes U playing you know performing their stuff um Marky you know was able to reach out and get nck and the barn boys and the cool thing about that is because this is an educational scope is that they're going to come in and give a master class with some of our students that get to hang out all day here at the school and then they'll perform afterwards so this isn't just a hey they're going to come by and play and do their set they're going to talk to the kids about the nuts and bolts of working together problem solving how do you work in a band how do you critique one another without crying or you know flipping the drum set over right it's all the stuff that they don't really know the back end of the business which I think has never really been taught it's all the glitz in the Glam of that Fame moment but having the conversation about it uh real quickly I just want to go over the mark Hennessy Foundation uh Mark was a just a beloved musician here on the cape whether you saw him in the Slackers uh whether you saw them with the Hennessy Brothers Hen House tequila on I mean there you can go on and on about what a musician and what an amazing human being he is and Amy Carol has done a really good job of putting this Foundation together Jen da is involved uh Steph Salada there are so many other people that are involved and I want to give people so much credit for making sure that it pushes his mission of the music never stops and musicians shouldn't have to sell their stuff or just being able to get through whatever it is a musician needs and they're there for that this Foundation is just incredible good morning Miss Cindy thanks for joining us we're talking to Elijah who is the Performing Arts director at barnable High about this new show that's coming out it's Encore night and it's coming up this week Fast and Furious tickets are only $10 and Nikki and the barn boys I'm just fascinated by what she has created here on the cape she goes to Salem State my daughter also is at Salem so I'm like oh it's our little girl but also just an incredible musician no it it's it's going to be absolutely fantastic and you know it's going to be great music you know it's going to be a good time we're going we're doing it in our little our smaller theater the night Hall just to give kids more of a chance to have it feel more intimate you know and the cool thing is is um you know having them even just put sound together carry you know schluff you know amps and things like that and really start to have a performance mindset you know what I always tell our students you know even grade six through 12 is if we're going to do something we should one do it the best that we can right I mean we you know we're still working with children here but we do it the best that we can but also um how are we how are we working together right the my favorite thing in the beginning of the year you know everyone has their new shoes on that aren't broken in and that you know they're all sweaty because it's September and you know exactly right um but we throw them into these classes and we have them work together and they stare at each other and they don't know how to talk they're like you know they they're all these individuals that well we have to start en coaching them how to have conversations and critically speak to one another to be to put a show together I mean think about a show that you go to even you know with Nikki and the barn boys and they put on this great set that didn't just happen you know they didn't just noodle around they it really took some creative talking but also talking that you don't take things personally and that's really important I think for our students to learn is is that you know we can you we can converse respectfully but also critique each other to come up and have this great experience so this is going to be a great concert we have some other alumni coming too like um carito and AK Tokyo they're they're more on the wrap side of things and it's going to be a mishmash of just a really really cool night and I'm just this is you know we do a lot of stuff throughout the year this is one that I'm really looking forward to um it's only going to be about an hour and 15 and um it's gonna be a good time I love the fact that you're saying that though because I think it's so important I think our kids get so wrapped up in that Perfection um so wrapped up in the end product I love the fact that you're going through and having that conversation and the master class involved in this is once again yes it's education well and I'm glad that they're they're willing to do that you know um to to use their time and I'm glad that the maresi foundation was excited about having that be part of the component because you know whether whether we like it or not you know the next generation is the next generation and we it it's stewardship right whether whether it's music whether whether you're a carpenter or anything you have to pass those skills on and our goal here in the performing arts department is to give kids the training that they need to succeed no matter if they want to be an engineer they want to be a doctor actually just on a side note we had this alumni concert um in August and we had alumni from the past almost 40 years come and and put on a a show a concert and uh I was floored you know we had right one of the a surgeon from bringman Women's Hospital was here this and that and they all talked about how getting to play together made them a better you know a better supervisor or a better doctor or a better um mechanic everything it with these conversations over that weekend and it really solidified it in me that what are how are we preparing our students and that everybody everybody in in Barnstable and Beyond deserves to have these experiences right so our department is focused on that whether wherever our kids go they're going to be rocking together it's GNA be a good time but we're also going to push them and they're going to use those skills no matter where they go in life thank you very much Derek for checking in uh Emily hi hello rosalene Cindy we're just so glad that you're here and watching this conversation with us today Elijah's just talking a little bit about some of the soft skills that these kids are developing for a lifetime of learning right it's not just this fun cool rock band in this fun one hour production that they get to put on it's all of the things that they're putting together and and learning the uncomfortable Parts about performing sometimes it's not a great performance I love the fact that you said these kids are good though well they are well you know the funny thing is is you the kids kind of can be like a rash you know they never leave and I mean that with all my love and my heart this years of teaching right but the thing is is they'll they sneak in here and I I you know you can work here late sometimes and I'll hear like they'll be in a corner of this building rocking you know and they they want to keep playing you know they they they stay after school they come together and they're they're now they're writing their own music and a couple of you know we'll do a lot of covers on Thursday couple of the pieces the kids wrote themselves and I'm you know sometimes I'm a half glass full type of guy you know I mean just saying it just throwing it out there and these kids they say well we wrote some music and we want to perform and I said okay well let me see it I don't know I mean look it guys this is a performance for the community and they played it I said oh wow this is actually this is actually not that bad add to the show we're adding it to the show yeah but you know I'm proud of them they they had a goal they did they put it together they worked hard and they got a lot going on I mean these kids are kids taking all these advanced placement classes someone worked two jobs you know on swim team you know and they they make it a priority and I always say to our students and to our parents too you know we we're we're just so thankful because there's so many things pulling kids attention whether it's their phones whether it's something else right I'm sure you're battling that every day in class with the dang phones it's always a constant battle but they live on their phones their books are on their phones their uh interaction is they write their lyrics they make their notes it's all there so it's kind of hard to pull it away from them imagine you know I remember passing notes in class on a piece of paper I mean be creative and be sneaky I mean G gon of the days but my thing is it's kind of like you know if they're playing the clarinet or if they're rocking on the base or the drum set they don't have time they don't have the the digits to be able to um you know go in right they have to be engaged in performing arts and the cool thing too with with all of these students too is we're getting them like OSHA trained we're getting some certifications and lighting and design so that you know our students U not only have a safety background but when they they leave here or even during the summer they can go to the melody tent they can go to the you know some of our wonderful performing spaces here on Cape Cod and say look I've got these certifications I'm a senior in high school now or maybe I just graduated and I know how to do this can I have a job and that's really important too right that that's our job to prepare these students for the Future No Matter What Direction they go in right for sure and they're always a great little skill for them to fall back on or maybe expand upon if they finding themselves in that that realm um I'm really enjoying this conversation the kids at barnville high school night Auditorium which is coming up uh tickets are only $10 and I just wanted to share the flyer from the show did anybody did one of the kids put this together or did you put it together for them do you let them do all of that stuff we do we do but again it's it's a chef you should see the the beginning the first ones you know don't know this one this came out great but you know some of our kids they throw things together you know we'll do a t-shirt design contest and you know you're like really that's what you came up with but no no we're we're they did a good job and and I'm glad we also have great faculty and staff so like Megan okor Vince she's our music production teacher um and she um she has a one of her degrees in in arts so she helps our kids kind of talk about what is design how do you feature things and it's um we're really a a a really cool Department because the same kids that are going to be rocking on Thursday are the same kids that are going to Little Mermaid in our musical um maybe they play a bunch of them are in my Orchestra so I also teach Orchestra and they're playing classical music I mean these kids have a really diverse repertoire and they're they're eating up all that that that different stuff so I'm I'm excited about it so impressive and I love what you're doing at the high school level right now I have had two or three musicians from sturis and also Barnstable play at my farmers market and it's an opportunity for them to engage the public be in the community not with the school sponsored something but get a couple of bucks play and really hone their music skills and I'm thoroughly impressed by the crop of high schoolers that are coming out right now and I don't know if it's because they had that time during covid to Noodle and play more or kind of focus on some of their skills or or it's the Taylor Swift effect where they're writing lyrics what do you think it is that's bringing them back to to the Arts because I think that they really are well I think the Arts for you know this is maybe a deeper conversation for another day but I think in society anyway we're in a um a desert of community um you know gone are for even adults or even our our older generation right you know if you're not in the Elks club or something like that what what do you what's going on you know your community softball teams aren't really thriving or even think about we do have Community bands here on Cape which are really lucky yeah but there's not a lot of places you know other than going to the bar or something to to be in community and I think the recogn that and they realize that yes they're going to be glued to their phones we're all addicted I get it but when they they I always tell students tab exactly well I always tell students who are nervous especially when we get new like our freshman unit and they all you know they're like shaking in their boots because now they're in a class with like seniors or something like that I say take a deep breath you have water wings on I'm here I'm with you but when they leave they say wait a second or when they go you know a couple weeks later now they have friends from another they they'll sit with at lunch um they get to be in these ensembles where they actually start to like have these Community moments we go on trips and competitions together and they say wait a second you know this is valuable and maybe it took losing some of that to to realize that it's a valuable process and I I I hope if there's any Silver Linings and some of these difficult things that happen it can be that you know no the Arts are not a infinite resource you have to continue to advocate for them you have to continue to raise them up and you have to keep going out on a limb and that's also why I'm thankful for the mark Hennessy Foundation because without them we wouldn't be able to do this it would not be happening in the same way would we wouldn't be having Nicki and the barn boys you wouldn't be having some of the supports and also just from a a financial standpoint you know these things don't just happen uh you know you know we have students who can't afford instruments we and we have students who you know they work all night to support their family and I they can't get a violin or an electric guitar or a drum set and you know there's real C C or kids who want to go to Berkeley we had about five audition in Berkeley but if their parents don't how are they supposed to do it so you know ra this money to pay for it is you're you're changing someone's life um especially for these kids yeah those opportunities are amazing Lauren is watching she said because the school system is uh working on lessening the Arts and now people are craving it we need outlets and I definitely agree with that barnable has always done a really good job of fostering that program uh it's just a really incredible program I love the fact that the students that have graduated are now coming back and giving back so very amazing it was really it was really cool Henry AZ he's a you know he's I love Henry oh oh Henry's awesome and he flew all the way from La yeah yeah just to come and perform with us and he was so funny because he's like oh they they can't they can't kick me out suspend me now you know you know joking but you know even he and I I wish I had the clip ready to show you know he said at the end of the performance because he performed the whole student body yeah that's amazing yeah just to say you know hey you know I I needed this outlet and the this teacher here you know Megan OK Conor Vince was the reason I was able to stay in school be focused and now pursue what I love to do and if I didn't have that I don't know what you know so you they need to hear that whether it's toop class or anything these CL these courses keep them engaged and keep them coming coming to school you know they they have also helps that you know Henry is working with with Juicy J his latest album I'm like watching his videos I was like how is this my little boy he's so good I know I know I was backstage with him and car Carlos carito and all these people laughing I'm like man I'm a big nerd you know what I mean I'm over here I'm I'm the orchestra teacher right like I'm like hey what about Beethoven but you guys are way cooler than me like my Instagram following is nothing compared to you but you know they're they're really great people to work with they're great musicians but you that Foundation that is what has to feel good you know what I mean yeah no it it is you know and there's nothing you know education is um is always a roller coaster and you're like we talked about this morning you know you're walk into the building there's a million things happening kids are crying laughing having the best day of their life the worst day of their life all in one time but there's nothing more rewarding than when you you know the student calls back say hey can we grab a cup of coffee they've already graduated and they get to talk to you about what they're doing and and you know sometimes they say thank you and you say look you know what you did that you know I'm I I facilitated the conversation but you know I we also need to honor some of these kids who are are working hard and that's what Thursday night's going to be as well is that you know they're a lot of times you know it's always all these kids and they have nothing to do but kids are doing really impressive things and they deserve to be celebrated and if it if it's enjoyable to listen to we might as well have a good you know all have a good time together so it's oncore night it's happening over at the night Auditorium 6:00 p.m. tickets are just $10 if you I'm going to post this on my um Facebook page too just so if people want to scan the QR code uh if you want to make a donation please I suggest that you get with the mark Hennessy Foundation they do an amazing job of spreading the love to all of our musicians wherever they are young big small wherever you are in your your music world and tour if uh you need something they support it and I AB absolutely love the mark Hennessy foundation so please definitely donate to that but come and enjoy some tunes watch Nikki and the barn boys and watch our students Thrive I love it Elijah anything else that you want to leave us with well I just want to leave you one thing about the marinesi foundation you know they asked me they called and said well what do you need um and I said well we need sustainability to to support our students they say well let's let's put this conert together and we want to help you every step of the way and also you know Barnstable we believe in in inclusion for all Learners no matter what their ability level is and we we have an integrated program with a wonderful Orchestra of kids with different abilities and special needs and these kids needed instruments the mark Hennessy came in and they had a check and they said well we we're gonna you know we're g to help you get instruments for these students you know and we have kids on the Spectrum we have kids with Down syndrome and Wheelchairs and they deserve to play music too and the fact that an organization just comes in and does that without having all you know all this red tape and then they they they they value the important things and I'm just so thankful because that's not always the case um in the world oh Elijah thank you so much and I we appreciate what you're doing with the program it's really pretty amazing I'm looking forward to some good Tunes we'll talk soon okay have a great time and thank you so much for highlighting what we're doing it's important right Barnstable Barnstable is thriving in know in in a in a community where things sometimes feel you know we we might be losing the Arts in other places we are thriving and it's because it's because of this community and because of people like you so thank you thank you Elijah I'll let you get back to the students yeah well I'd rather hang out with you but that's fine no I'm just kidding all right have a great day bye oh I'm really excited for that show and uh I know that the kids have been working really hard and uh if you've not gotten a chance to check out Nikki and the barn boys she's pretty fantastic uh here we are into March we've got March madis St Patrick's Day cherry blossoms uh baseball is right around the corner I did not watch the Oscars daylight savings time is happening allergies are coming for us so I've got a couple of things that I'm running out for I've got to go toward the Worcester food Hub which I'm very excited for got the farmers market conference that is coming up this week and uh we are accepting applications right now for our Farmers Market which happens in Mash P Commons great place great Community event where we have live music every single week um we we are just so lucky to have such an amazing Community doing cool things if you've got something cool that you want to share with us if you've got something you're like yes Stephanie you need to talk about it you need to have this guest on please just reach out to me can always email Stephanie Stephany via.com uh or just sign up I will throw the link at the bottom of this conversation to book a time to chat with us and talk about all the amazing things that are going on in your community regardless of where you are all right have a great Monday have a great week and uh we'll talk soon bye d things have a way of writing themselves if you let them let opportunities rest and you'll regret them I'm going to take this time to let it out on the line something that should be OB could be why we both feel like right but never the right time always right there in the back of my mind let me