By Tiffany Stookey
First and foremost, I remember Mr. Javens as someone with a sense of pride, class, and all business like attitude. Mr. Javen's did not joke much, but he never raised his voice and always had class.
I met Mr. Javen's the summer before starting 4th grade. I had wanted to be a member of the band since I was a small child. I remember the band marching down my street during the summer for practice; I thought this was the best thing in the whole world! Anyhow I wanted to play the trumpet (probably because it was loud and I was small, and wanted to be heard). When my mother and I went to sign me up for band Mr. Javen's convinced my mother that the clarinet would be better for me. I was very disappointed, but my desire to be in the band was stronger than my disappointment.
Mr. Javen's taught me to read music, and play the clarinet, a long and painful task. I remember him as serious, and demanding perfection. As a child he scared the crap out of me. Learning to play an instrument was very difficult, but I guess it was my stubborn type A personality that kept me going, failure was not an option.
I remember the Colonel Sanders Cowboy uniforms. I remember how excited we all were to get new uniforms. We had all worked so hard to raise the money to pay for them (I can't remember how we raised the money). I was not impressed by the cowboy hat at all, as that was not my sense of style. We were the “Cowboys” and I wanted nothing less than to dress like a one. On the other hand I was so excited to wear the uniform for the first time and March in the parade. We marched with our heads held high, with pride and a sense of accomplishment. From there we went to SLC to march in the Days of 47 parade for the first time and then to Disney Land.
Mr. Javen's was a great influence on my life, he taught me about music, Literature (Iambic Pentameter/Blank Verse), hard work, and a sense of pride and accomplishment. Now as an adult I realize what a dedicated and patient man he was. I have 2 teenagers and an 11yr old and I cannot imagine taking 30 of them on bus for a short trip, let alone out of town for a few days. He was there for us day after day for year after year. Kudos to you Mr. Javen's! You are a Grantsville High Legend!
I remeber they day they handed out notes when I was in the 4th grade to sign up for the band and went right home and told my mom I wanted to join. We went to the meeting to pick out my instrument and when I said I wanted to play the flute, Mr. Javens suggested I might like the trumpet better. I stuck to my guns though and played the flute for 8 years.
ReplyDeleteI can remeber his foot tapping and head bobbing as we played. And those fun cowboy uniforms. I loved marching in the parades and remember how when we tried to talk Mr. J in to summer uniforms he would remind us that when we marched in the Days of 47 parade we were in competition and had to wear our full uniforms.
I also remember the trip to Magic Mountain my junior year. It was fun. I remember The joke the bus driver played on Mr J. He didn't think it was too funny. (I have pics of some of you on that trip also.)
I learned perseverence and patience from Mr. Javens. It was sometimes difficult for me to learn the right fingering for some of the notes, but I just kept trying and got most of them. (There were still some I had to fake through though.) I also learned that when the teacher gets up in front it is time to get serious.
Thanks Mr. J. Have a Great Birthday.