Scott Souza, Band Director at Archbishop Riordan High School, counts and claps as he prepares his band for the upcoming Winter Concert. The brass, woodwind and percussive sounds all solemnly play “Carol of the Bells”. Souza then shakes his head and stops the band. Whispers from the apparently undisciplined band begin as Souza talks about how they can improve what he just heard. He looks at the sleepy percussion section and asks, “Where are the bells”?
Souza has been the instructor at Archbishop Riordan High School since 2002. Since then he has strived to instill what Emilio Lacayo-Valle, Assistant Band Director, calls “a culture of excellence” in the various bands at Riordan.
“There are the two things I would like them to leave here with. An appreciation of music and strive to be the best they can be at everything they attempt”, said Mr. Souza.
Souza has lived his philosophy throughout his whole career as a student of music. Souza made music education his goal when he was a sophomore at Lodi High School. “After the first competition, I was hooked”, said Souza. His high school band teacher, Bob Gross, encouraged him to do as much with his music as he wanted and had high expectations of the band. Souza now does the same with the Riordan Band.
Another influence, Doug Riddle, his high school choir director, continued to help Souza even when he was in college.
Souza completed his degree at Northern Arizona University. Here he marched with the Marching Aztec Band and experienced the camaraderie he encourages in the Riordan Band.
After college he taught at the high school level in Arizona before moving back to California. His father had fallen very ill and he wanted to be closer to the family.
Souza delved into the business aspect of music. He worked for a software company called Scientific Learning Corporation in Oakland. “One of my coworkers once told me ‘You just need to get back into teaching. I can tell it’s a passion of yours.’ ”, said Souza. He took his coworkers advice and went for the teaching position at Archbishop Riordan High School.
“The continuity between what I had and what I hope these students are receiving is the love they have for this [band] room”, comments Souza as he reflects about the parallels between himself as a student and his own students.
He currently teaches Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Marching/Concert Band and Jazz Band. The Riordan Band program takes in freshmen students who have never played an instrument and teaches them how to play. They progress through the different levels of band and are taught by Souza all four years of their high school career.
“I know you better than any other teacher on this campus. I get to see you walk in as a freshmen and walk across that stage as a senior. It doesn’t get better than that”, claims Souza he tells his students.
His job doesn’t come without challenges. Souza says that making the growth happen is the most difficult part. Additionally, inspiring “the spark”, the interest, and the commitment to music and performance is no easy task especially in rebellious teenagers.
Some consider Souza as not only a teacher, but also a mentor. Lacayo, the Assistant Band Director, is a currently a music education student at San Francisco State University. He attributes his interest in becoming an educator to Souza. “ To a large degree he was the one who made me believe that I could do it”, commented Lacayo as he talked about why he went back to school to become a teacher.
The bells resound as the Concert Band plays “Carol of the Bells” at their Winter Concert. Souza directs his band in their military style uniforms as they sit up and perform their concert pieces. They seem as though they are a different band. They seem serious and ready to impress the audience. They all sit up tall in their chairs and many of them keep the tempo by taping their feet. The concert band plays so gracefully.
The rest of the night continues with wonderful music played from all levels of band.
In the final performance, Souza leads a combined band where the Intermediate Band members and the Marching Band members play and then march out together in a symbolic gesture of community and camaraderie.
Today was my last day to gather information for this project. So I spent most of the day at the school. I managed to get some great sound clips of the Jazz Band rehearsing.
Additionally, I was able to get some great interviews with students about Mr.Souza. Most of them seemed thankful, although a couple were timid to admit it. One student, Samson Fong, seemed to be vey appreciative of Mr.Souza as a teacher, mentor, and friend. His main concerns about the band seemed to be the relative inexperience of the band members. The band program at Archbishop Riordan High School begins with freshmen who have never played an instrument and slowly progress to more advanced players over the four years of their schooling. Mr. Souza is the teacher who guides them on this musical journey. Mr.Souza says he is very thankful to have the opportunity to see these young men develop.
Although he is busy most of the day, Scott Souza, Archbishop Riordan High School Band Director, managed to squeeze an interview in between classes. We sat in his office, which was full of music and administrative papers. The interview went rather well, it seemed just like a conversation. He told me some things about his life as a student of music as well as his life as a teacher of music. He has studied all over California, but completed his degree at Northwestern University, which he proudly hangs in his office. He returned home because he wanted to be closer to his family. He has taught at Archbishop Riordan High School since 2002. He talked about why he loves teaching and why he loves music. I could really see that he has a passion for what he does.
I met with Scott Souza, earlier this week to see if he wouldn’t mind me doing a profile piece on him. He said I could. YAY! Throughout the week I dropped into his class. The first day I took pictures of the Concert Band as they prepared for their Winter Concert. Many of the band members seemed tired. The class also seemed like they were still celebreating their success at their recent Fairfield Band Review, and were therefore unfocused. Their band room was packed, and at times noisy. I seriously wondered if they would be able to have a successful Winter Concert.
I must admit that their sound is significantly better than the sound of the band when I was in it. They sound much more mature.
Mr. Souza, however, seemed pretty confident in his band. The band also did well at their previous review at Foothill.
Concerned about how much you might be making as a photographer. Here are the average annual wages of the lowest and highest paid photographers.
Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics
Sibylla Herbrich is a photojournalism professor at San Francisco State University. She is also a freelance photographer and gives us some advice about being a photojournalist.
Being a journalism student is tough especially because of the budget cuts! Although getting this video up and running was tough, being a journalism student is somehting we do because of a passion for truth and conveying information. It also allows us to be creative while using our pens and cameras to portray essential information.
I am a self admitted transient. I go from place to place without a care in the world. If neighborhood is defined as where you spend most of your life, then these pictures place a pretty accurate picture. I have a place where I sleep and then I have a place where I spend my life. These are not the same. Many people frown upon this lifestyle. However, I think of it as being dynamic and exciting. Everyday is never the same and every moment cherished.
Capturing candid moments is an important part of being a smart photographer. Here are a couple of tips and tactics to catch candid moments.
1. Become a big game hunter.
This is where you are very secretive and get as close as possible without allowing your subject to know you are there. A hunter always tries to go in as close as possible and then use their sights to get their target. After getting close you try to use your zoom lens to photograph the subject. This tactic is especialy effective when your subject may begin to do something differently when they see you taking a picture. Do you see the connection?
2. Hit and run
This is a tactic where you go up to a subject that does not know your intention of photographing them, and then you suddenly take a picture and then leave before they can say anything. For those of you with a lower IQ, allow me to state the obvious. If you are going to use this tactic you cannot let your subject know you are going to take a picture. Therefore, DON’T WALK UP WITH YOUR CAMERA OUT!
This is very effective for a subject you think might refuse to take a picture or in a place where they might stop you. Keep in mind that you can take pictures in most places until they ask you to stop.
3. Introduce yourself
This may sound counter intuitive when trying to shoot candidly, however it can be appropriate in some
situations. You should introduce yourself and your publication. but more importantly tell them to carry on with what they are doing.
4. Freestyle
This is where you just go to a location and you don’t introduce yourself and don’t necesarily be secretive about your presense. You openly take pictures and hope to get candid moment.
5. Be prepared
This tip is especially important when you already have a feel for the location and subject. You can be prepared by having your settings ready for the location you will shoot (aperture and ISO). You may even hav an idea of how fast the subject will be moving allowing you to set a shutter speed. your camera may even have an option which allows you to set some of these, but does rest of the thinking for you!
6. Anticipate the moment
This tip is especially important when you see that events may be developing. For instance, if you see two people starting to argue and clinching their fists, you can anticipate that a fight will break out. Using your instincts and being able to read a situation are very important.
7. Shoot before the moment
You may want to begin taking pictures of the events leading up to a anticipated moments. Using the previous example, you might want to begin taking pictures when you see the the argument break out, not just of the fight.
8. Shoot alot during the moment
DO NOT JUST TAKE A COUPLE OF PICTURES! You may think you have the shot you need. However, you should make sure you have it, so take more.
9. Shoot after the moment
Many times you may feel like the moment may have passed. However, making sure you have the right moment means you have go shoot through the whole moment.
Don’t be an idiot photographer… use these tactics to capture candid moments.
The United Healthcare Workers protested cuts to In-Home Supportive Services in front of the Federal Court Building in Oakland today. The rain did not deter the over 100 people that crowded the courtyard in front of the federal building. The outraged crowd was a mix of ethnicities and ages. There were also those who were disabled, as well as caretakers, and families.
Judge Claudia Wilken precided over the hearing. She has issued a temporary halt sending out “notices of action” to recepients of the IHSS recepients about the cuts. Today she will hear both sides of the issue. On one side she will listen to UHW and other advocacy groups and attorneys who oppose the cuts. She will also listen to the state that will argue for the cuts. She can then decided whether or not to stop or delay these cuts.
The cuts could effect individuals, their families, and other people who work for them to fend for themselves. The IHSS covers individuals with disabilities, mental health needs, seniors, and anybody else who may use assisted living services.
