Notre Dame's music program and its students thrive under the tutelage of longtime band director Joe Martin. Notre Dame band director Joe Martin works with an upper division class in the school’s state-of-the-art band facility.
He also said that Michigan's teachers tend to be well-connected to their professional organizations and seek out professional development. Finally, he noted that based on his research, the quality of music teachers in the state is outstanding.
"They are talented, smart and well-informed," Robinson said.
Directing Notre Dame's own solid and award-winning music program is one of those outstanding music teachers, Joe Martin.
Now with more than 20 years on campus, NDPMA band director Martin said he's seen the music program advance from less than 20 students when he first started at the school to more than 140 currently. He also said that over the years, he's followed the same basic philosophy of teaching music and directing bands.
"Basically, it comes down to this: I teach kids how to create by performing together through music," said Martin, who manages marching, symphony, jazz, pit orchestra and solo and ensemble bands at Notre Dame. "But I believe I teach much more than just music. I try to teach kids how to appreciate, understand, love, lead, follow, create and to express themselves in healthy ways."
Sounds like a huge task, but which for Martin, however, is probably not that big of a deal given his own work ethic and a healthy dose of experience and expertise one only gets from many years "in the business."
A world of music
After graduating from his own high school, Southgate Anderson, Martin started working as an architect and attending Henry Ford College in Dearborn. While at Henry Ford, he joined the school's jazz band because he wanted to continue with one of the true loves in his life: music. Little did he know that that college jazz band would change his life forever.
Martin, who has been at NDPMA for more than 20 years, also plays in a number of rock and jazz bands in the metro Detroit area.
After three years of performing with the college, Martin knew he needed to devote himself more fully to music as a career. He quit his architectural job, changed his major to music education and received a full-tuition scholarship to Wayne State University, where he finished his bachelor's degree.
With college under his belt, Martin started teaching music in the Birmingham school district at Seaholm High School. When Pontiac Notre Dame was looking for a band director, a friend of Martin recommended him to school founder, Fr. Leon Olszamowski, s.m.
"It only took one meeting with Father Leon to see how passionate he and Notre Dame were about the arts, Martin recalled. "I trusted that God was leading me in the right direction and I accepted the job. Now, many years later, I still feel lucky to be here helping our students grow into adulthood."
Music is a family affair
A number of current students Martin is helping to grow into adulthood are a bit closer to him perhaps than the others. They also appear to have inherited his talent and love of music.
Martin's daughter Stephanie is in her senior year in high school and plays flute in the symphony band. She also is the drum major for the marching band and sings in the choir.
"Stephanie actually performed for the Detroit Opera Children's Choir," Martin noted with obvious pride. "And my daughter Jessica, who is a high school junior, plays oboe in the symphony band, trumpet in the marching band and also sings in the choir.
Martin is joined by his children, from left, Curtis, Michael, Stephanie and Jessica. They were in Hawaii as part of the "Salute to Valor Music Festival," held July 4, 2016, on the Battleship Missouri Memorial on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor. The event helped commemorate the 75th anniversary of the World War II attack on Pearl Harbor.
Playing the local club circuit
When school is in session, Martin seems to be working on campus from sunup to well after sundown. But with more than 100 kids in the band program, he would likely need an extra 24 hours each day to get all that he needs done alone. Fortunately, he gets some great help from his staff.
"Greg Milewski, who is a retired band director from the Southfield school district, is my assistant," Martin said. "Patty Wyza and Shannon Bartlett are my color-guard coaches. Patty teaches at the lower division and Shannon is a graduate of NDP. Jake Matthews, also an NDP alum, is my percussion coach."
When school is not in session and Martin has a little free time, he can be seen around town on various stages himself, playing trumpet or trombone for a number of bands.
"I'm in a band called 'The Pros,' another one called 'Jump Street,' a group called 'Exit Strategy' and still another called 'Blues Crew,' to name a few," he said. "Most of the bands are either jazz or rock bands."
NOTE: Notre Dame's upper and middle division bands will hold their Christmas concert next Thursday, 7 p.m., in the main school gymnasium.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.