Profile Story: Scott Souza and his passion for music education
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.
