"From J.C. Javens to some of my former students and favorite people.
Thanks to all of you for taking the time to write down your thoughts about the time we shared together. I enjoyed reading all of your comments. They brought back wonderful memories.
I'm enjoying my life here in the great northwest and I hope all of you are enjoying life too. Thanks again for your thoughts and friendship. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be your teacher.
Dr. J"
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
BillandRhonda Miller
Today at 7:01pm
ok. thanx
Sent via Facebook Mobile
I remember 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.
I can remember 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 perseverance 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.
ok. thanx
Sent via Facebook Mobile
I remember 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.
I can remember 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 perseverance 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.
Mary Lynn (Thornton) Riggs
Hi Mr. Javens!
Happy Birthday! I've often wanted to send my high school teachers notes of thanks because of their great influence on me, and helping me become who I am today, so I will combine that with this note today! Thanks for having a birthday so I can do that :)
First of all I want to say thank you for teaching me so much about music and making it pure fun. You are the reason that I can play the clarinet -- you never charged me for private lessons, you just spent a little extra time with me during summer practices and gave me pointers. It made all the difference between me struggling to learn, and loving to learn to play. And you made everything fun! I never think about keeping the beat without seeing your tapping toe while you led us in the band room.
I don't know if you remember this or not, but when I was in sixth grade, the Jr. High & High School were still together, and you were still in need of band members, so you petitioned the elementary teachers to see if there were any students willing to come to High School band practice and see if they wanted to play in the band. I remember that James Christensen and I went, and I couldn't believe that a sixth grader was actually able to be in a high school band! This is where I first began my love for sports of all sorts, because we played at all the home football and basketball games. I decided that if I was going to be at all those football games, I needed to learn the sport. So my Dad taught me the game, and I loved each and every ball game that we went to from that day through my Senior year.
One of my first memories of going with the band was being getting to go with the band to St. George to perform. My parents weren't too keen on letting a junior high kid go with a high school band out of town. So you talked to them, and promised that you and your wife would personally take good care of me. And you did! I felt pretty important getting to hang out with you two, eat lunch with you, etc. Thanks for caring so much for your students, even the beginners.
My favorite memories of band include my 8th grade year when GHS went to the State Championships in football and basketball. I remember freezing at some of the playoff games when it was snowing and so bitter cold. Someone felt a little sorry for us dedicated band members and bought us all hot chocolate! I'm sure you had something to do with that! But cold or not, the band always played "Here Comes the King", and many other great fight songs, and that contributed to the fun of that year. That year, the basketball team took the championship in basketball. I can remember driving back on the band bus and coming around the point of the mountain by the Great Salt Lake and seeing the steady stream of vehicles and busses going from Lake Point on into Grantsville. You said that as soon as we hit Main Street we could start playing, and we opened our windows as soon as we got into town and started playing. Our band was a huge part of the school spirit at GHS, and that is because of your great leadership.
I loved the enthusiam with which you taught us our music, and I still have an intense love for music to this day. You are a very big part of that. I appreciate all the songs you taught us -- there was a great variety, and I loved it. Every time I hear "Smoke on the Water", and any John Philip Sousa fight song, I can see you leading us!
Some other favorite memories I have are of performing for the Old Folks Sociable in the high school auditorium (before it burned down). I loved the feeling that was felt by all as we came down both aisles booming loud, and seeing all the people stand up and appreciate what we were playing. In that little space, we sounded really big. It was great. Another fabulous memory was marching at Rice Stadium in a competition. You practiced us hard in Grantsville, and we were so glad when we got to that huge stadium and saw so many other great bands performing. I loved the trips to St. George! They were looked forward to all year!
Last of all, thanks for your great smile and words of encouragement. You made every time we performed seem special! I remember when I was a Senior, and was so busy, and we were supposed to get out of class early to get ready for a pep assembly. I asked you if I could miss it because I had so many things to do that day. You reminded me of the times the band had supported me in my athletics, and asked me just to come as long as I could, so I could show my support to whoever this assembly was for. It taught me a lesson. It also taught me that you had compassion for me because you let me go early. You are a teacher through and through.
For all you have done for me, my family and Grantsville, thanks so very much. I truly love you, and wish you the best birthday ever!!!
Sincerely,
Mary Lynn (Thornton)Riggs
GHS Class of 1983
Happy Birthday! I've often wanted to send my high school teachers notes of thanks because of their great influence on me, and helping me become who I am today, so I will combine that with this note today! Thanks for having a birthday so I can do that :)
First of all I want to say thank you for teaching me so much about music and making it pure fun. You are the reason that I can play the clarinet -- you never charged me for private lessons, you just spent a little extra time with me during summer practices and gave me pointers. It made all the difference between me struggling to learn, and loving to learn to play. And you made everything fun! I never think about keeping the beat without seeing your tapping toe while you led us in the band room.
I don't know if you remember this or not, but when I was in sixth grade, the Jr. High & High School were still together, and you were still in need of band members, so you petitioned the elementary teachers to see if there were any students willing to come to High School band practice and see if they wanted to play in the band. I remember that James Christensen and I went, and I couldn't believe that a sixth grader was actually able to be in a high school band! This is where I first began my love for sports of all sorts, because we played at all the home football and basketball games. I decided that if I was going to be at all those football games, I needed to learn the sport. So my Dad taught me the game, and I loved each and every ball game that we went to from that day through my Senior year.
One of my first memories of going with the band was being getting to go with the band to St. George to perform. My parents weren't too keen on letting a junior high kid go with a high school band out of town. So you talked to them, and promised that you and your wife would personally take good care of me. And you did! I felt pretty important getting to hang out with you two, eat lunch with you, etc. Thanks for caring so much for your students, even the beginners.
My favorite memories of band include my 8th grade year when GHS went to the State Championships in football and basketball. I remember freezing at some of the playoff games when it was snowing and so bitter cold. Someone felt a little sorry for us dedicated band members and bought us all hot chocolate! I'm sure you had something to do with that! But cold or not, the band always played "Here Comes the King", and many other great fight songs, and that contributed to the fun of that year. That year, the basketball team took the championship in basketball. I can remember driving back on the band bus and coming around the point of the mountain by the Great Salt Lake and seeing the steady stream of vehicles and busses going from Lake Point on into Grantsville. You said that as soon as we hit Main Street we could start playing, and we opened our windows as soon as we got into town and started playing. Our band was a huge part of the school spirit at GHS, and that is because of your great leadership.
I loved the enthusiam with which you taught us our music, and I still have an intense love for music to this day. You are a very big part of that. I appreciate all the songs you taught us -- there was a great variety, and I loved it. Every time I hear "Smoke on the Water", and any John Philip Sousa fight song, I can see you leading us!
Some other favorite memories I have are of performing for the Old Folks Sociable in the high school auditorium (before it burned down). I loved the feeling that was felt by all as we came down both aisles booming loud, and seeing all the people stand up and appreciate what we were playing. In that little space, we sounded really big. It was great. Another fabulous memory was marching at Rice Stadium in a competition. You practiced us hard in Grantsville, and we were so glad when we got to that huge stadium and saw so many other great bands performing. I loved the trips to St. George! They were looked forward to all year!
Last of all, thanks for your great smile and words of encouragement. You made every time we performed seem special! I remember when I was a Senior, and was so busy, and we were supposed to get out of class early to get ready for a pep assembly. I asked you if I could miss it because I had so many things to do that day. You reminded me of the times the band had supported me in my athletics, and asked me just to come as long as I could, so I could show my support to whoever this assembly was for. It taught me a lesson. It also taught me that you had compassion for me because you let me go early. You are a teacher through and through.
For all you have done for me, my family and Grantsville, thanks so very much. I truly love you, and wish you the best birthday ever!!!
Sincerely,
Mary Lynn (Thornton)Riggs
GHS Class of 1983
Janet Thornton Liddiard -
He was always leading with one finger, one foot tapping, and the head bob. it's how i think of him.
Band trip - I remember going to magic mountain, CA. we weren't in the best hotel, so we snuck into another hotel to swim.
And i remember doing the 24th of july parade, and we marched in the hottest uniforms, out of date, but we still marched and were great.
I sat with Christina Lopez, when we weren't seperated for being too noisy. We of course had all the Butchers around, and sat by Amy Butcher because she was a flute player too.
she was an older player and i got to hang out.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Javens!
Band trip - I remember going to magic mountain, CA. we weren't in the best hotel, so we snuck into another hotel to swim.
And i remember doing the 24th of july parade, and we marched in the hottest uniforms, out of date, but we still marched and were great.
I sat with Christina Lopez, when we weren't seperated for being too noisy. We of course had all the Butchers around, and sat by Amy Butcher because she was a flute player too.
she was an older player and i got to hang out.
Happy Birthday, Mr. Javens!
David Javens
JCJ started teaching in G-ville in 1970 and retired in 1994. When he started at the school, there was only a small chamber orchestra, directed by Mr. Butcher. Dad brought back the Marching band to Grantsville. He taught music at the elementary school in in Grantsville and then in Stansbury (once the school was opened). He also taught the music program at the Grantsville Middle school. So, he taught music at four schools.
He also taught:
English
Spanish
English Literature
Philosophy
--maybe some others???
Schools he taught at:
GHS
GES
GMS
SES
GHS Band:
G-ville 4th of July
Tooelle 4th of July
Days of 47 Parade in SLC (I think thats the name)
St. George
Las Vegas
Disneyland
Old Folks Sociable
Basketball / Football games
And of course marching around town all summer long
He also taught:
English
Spanish
English Literature
Philosophy
--maybe some others???
Schools he taught at:
GHS
GES
GMS
SES
GHS Band:
G-ville 4th of July
Tooelle 4th of July
Days of 47 Parade in SLC (I think thats the name)
St. George
Las Vegas
Disneyland
Old Folks Sociable
Basketball / Football games
And of course marching around town all summer long
Sharon Thornton Montgomery
Sharon Thornton Montgomery
June 13 at 4:13pm
i agree, shane. He brought class, dignity, and talent and respect to our town, to the school, and to us as individuals. He taught me so many things. so many lessons that i used outside the music room. Whatever you do, do big. He said that to me when i was in 5th grade, you know. i was so afraid to make a mistake that i wasn't putting in my best effort. i didn't want to be embarrassed. he walked up to our row of trumpets and said, "if you are always worried what people think of you, you will be at the mercy of people who are easily distracted, easily swayed, and aren't worth the effort. So whatever you do, do big. Mistakes are meant to be dealt with so you can get better. Successes are meant to be shared." He looked at me in the eye, smiled a bit, and said, "don't be afraid of mistakes. they make you better. and who knows? if you shoot for that high note, you might just make it and sound great."
He went back to his place in front and said, "lets take it from the top." And that was it.
I think he knew that all we needed was being believe in, and direction. Our talents would manifest as a result. We never had to be given assignments to take home, i don't think. or at least i didn't. It just became part of my life. when i wasn't practicing with him, i was thinking about how to improve. I would think about how to transpose whatever i would hear into workable pieces to play. He instilled in me .....purpose. And purpose in the small town was key for me. It was my purpose, and intimate and mine. He created a vision that i bought into. We COULD be great, so I wanted to live up to that greatness. I brought my 100%, and i saw that my classmates did too. sometimes we were good, sometimes we weren't, but we were held to that 100% standard, and he would let us know when we didn't show it.
I never worried that he would yell or cuss at us. But it would be horribly the thought of him being DISAPPOINTED in us. OR, Gulp, ME...
I don't know that it was like that for everyone, but i do see that he found each student's positive buttons. the "How to be even better" button that we each had. He could be stern, or funny. Whatever got me to that next level.
I could tell the adults he allowed into our space (the band booster club, the bus drivers, the chaperones....) bought into his teaching style too. They automatically brought the "you are enough to be more than you think" attitude with them. Some had shorter tempers than others. but they were all there because they wanted to be. -Sharon Thornton Montgomery "I had mr. javens as a teacher from 1983 through 1991"
June 13 at 4:13pm
i agree, shane. He brought class, dignity, and talent and respect to our town, to the school, and to us as individuals. He taught me so many things. so many lessons that i used outside the music room. Whatever you do, do big. He said that to me when i was in 5th grade, you know. i was so afraid to make a mistake that i wasn't putting in my best effort. i didn't want to be embarrassed. he walked up to our row of trumpets and said, "if you are always worried what people think of you, you will be at the mercy of people who are easily distracted, easily swayed, and aren't worth the effort. So whatever you do, do big. Mistakes are meant to be dealt with so you can get better. Successes are meant to be shared." He looked at me in the eye, smiled a bit, and said, "don't be afraid of mistakes. they make you better. and who knows? if you shoot for that high note, you might just make it and sound great."
He went back to his place in front and said, "lets take it from the top." And that was it.
I think he knew that all we needed was being believe in, and direction. Our talents would manifest as a result. We never had to be given assignments to take home, i don't think. or at least i didn't. It just became part of my life. when i wasn't practicing with him, i was thinking about how to improve. I would think about how to transpose whatever i would hear into workable pieces to play. He instilled in me .....purpose. And purpose in the small town was key for me. It was my purpose, and intimate and mine. He created a vision that i bought into. We COULD be great, so I wanted to live up to that greatness. I brought my 100%, and i saw that my classmates did too. sometimes we were good, sometimes we weren't, but we were held to that 100% standard, and he would let us know when we didn't show it.
I never worried that he would yell or cuss at us. But it would be horribly the thought of him being DISAPPOINTED in us. OR, Gulp, ME...
I don't know that it was like that for everyone, but i do see that he found each student's positive buttons. the "How to be even better" button that we each had. He could be stern, or funny. Whatever got me to that next level.
I could tell the adults he allowed into our space (the band booster club, the bus drivers, the chaperones....) bought into his teaching style too. They automatically brought the "you are enough to be more than you think" attitude with them. Some had shorter tempers than others. but they were all there because they wanted to be. -Sharon Thornton Montgomery "I had mr. javens as a teacher from 1983 through 1991"
Shane Dunstan (and Brian Delaney)
Shane Dunstan
June 13 at 3:19pm
Bryan Delaney and I remember the first trip to Disneyland in 1985. We practiced real hard and were the second high school marching band to perform in Disneyland. On our last day in California we were late going to Sandiego due to everyone deciding to throw Mr Javens in the swimming pool. After that the whole group ended up in the Pool. Mr Javens stayed in the pool while everyone else got dry. The second time in Disneyland in 1987 we were performing a stage show when Minnie Mouse kicked him off the stage and directed our stage performance. He had the respect from all he taught in the band where some even came after they graduated and helped in parades during the summer. No other director would allow 8th graders to help provide music in a high school band like he did. He fought to get us and keep our recognition we deserved. He helped us all I believe grow up with responsibility more than he would ever know.
Shane Dunstan
1984-1989
June 13 at 3:19pm
Bryan Delaney and I remember the first trip to Disneyland in 1985. We practiced real hard and were the second high school marching band to perform in Disneyland. On our last day in California we were late going to Sandiego due to everyone deciding to throw Mr Javens in the swimming pool. After that the whole group ended up in the Pool. Mr Javens stayed in the pool while everyone else got dry. The second time in Disneyland in 1987 we were performing a stage show when Minnie Mouse kicked him off the stage and directed our stage performance. He had the respect from all he taught in the band where some even came after they graduated and helped in parades during the summer. No other director would allow 8th graders to help provide music in a high school band like he did. He fought to get us and keep our recognition we deserved. He helped us all I believe grow up with responsibility more than he would ever know.
Shane Dunstan
1984-1989
Krista Brimhall
June 16 at 1:10am
Report Message
Sharon--here is my message. Thanks for doing this, you ROCK!
Hi Mr. Javens
I just wanted to let you know how much I respect you as a teacher and as a person. I know I didn't show it well back in the day but believe me when I say it was there, otherwise, I would have given up in the first year. You had a way of making me want to do better. I didn't want to disappoint you (even though I often did). Most of my fondest memories of school had something to do with band, psychology, or English.
And as far as Band directors go, there has been no one better or even as good. Just an example--My niece was in her 4th year of playing the clarinet and I had to show her how to play a b natural. My first thought was "Boy, do we need Mr. Javens back!". I know that wouldn't have happened with you.
I hope that you are happy and healthy and living the content life of a retired old fart! Just a little taste of the me you remember=).
If you have a minute, I would love to hear from you.
Take care,
Krista (Bell) Brimhall
Report Message
Sharon--here is my message. Thanks for doing this, you ROCK!
Hi Mr. Javens
I just wanted to let you know how much I respect you as a teacher and as a person. I know I didn't show it well back in the day but believe me when I say it was there, otherwise, I would have given up in the first year. You had a way of making me want to do better. I didn't want to disappoint you (even though I often did). Most of my fondest memories of school had something to do with band, psychology, or English.
And as far as Band directors go, there has been no one better or even as good. Just an example--My niece was in her 4th year of playing the clarinet and I had to show her how to play a b natural. My first thought was "Boy, do we need Mr. Javens back!". I know that wouldn't have happened with you.
I hope that you are happy and healthy and living the content life of a retired old fart! Just a little taste of the me you remember=).
If you have a minute, I would love to hear from you.
Take care,
Krista (Bell) Brimhall
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