By Paul J. Condra
During an afternoon rehearsal last Thursday with the Howard T. Herber Middle School jazz band in Malverne, Moryl was leading his group through a version of the Temptations' Papa was a Rolling Stone.
There's three notes before 37, cut that out, just cut those notes out and come in right on 37. Does everybody know what I'm talking about? he instructs.
The band obeys, and pulls their horns, drums and strings into line. Then Moryl snaps his fingers in the direction of the drums, where Crystal Henry, a drummer since she was four, had added an interesting quirk to the rock and roll tattoo she was playing; she has removed one of her shoes, a bright pink boot she had just bought.
I don't want to ruin them, she said.
But Moryl isn't phased by the surprise: One, two, that could be a trademark, the one-shoe drummer, Moryl shouted to her, never missing the beat as it coursed through the room.
But you'd never know something was amiss by the way Henry was playing, keeping the pulsating jazz that has infected this band of sixth, seventh and eighth graders up to the tempo Moryl demands of them.
Like the sign on the wall above his head, dedicated to strive for excellence, Moryl appears to ask no less as he instructs his players.
In the next room, the school auditorium, Terrance Daye had assembled a small portion of his 165-member choir. Huddled around his great grand piano, the students lifted their voices to the high expectations of Daye as he led them through versions of Killing Me Softly, Joyful Joyful, and Hero.
As some members of the band step forward to sing a solo, others twirl their bodies in a choreographed dance.
Like I always say, Daye announced to his students after ending the tune, you guys are always the heroes.
Such encouragement is typical of Daye, who seems to dole it out as easily as if it were one of the wide crisp smiles that dance below his sparkling eyes.
Both in their fourth year with the school, Daye and Moryl have helped to bring a new standard of excellence to the middle school's music program. Through matching their own professional experience to the young energy of the students they teach, this pair of musical masters are building a symphony of sounds that ring to the sound of the kids who compose it:
The way [they teach] is to make sure you have fun, said Alma Britt, a seventh-grade Herber singer.
It's a phrase echoed by the students, all of whom are required to take band, choir or music appreciation classes.
It's fun, I like the different types of music, said eighth-grade trumpeter Dan McQueeney.
The professional touch
Hired by past principal the late Raymond Rodecker and the district music chair Philip Campanella, Daye and Moryl bring a wide breadth of experience to Herber's music program.
As a teenager, Moryl began his professional career as a saxophonist and flutist. He has received recognition from the Julliard School in New York, a bachelor of music at the Oberlin Music Conservatory in Ohio and a master of music from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. He teaches woodwind instruments at his studios in Port Washington and Franklin Square and is currently working on a CD of eighteenth century flute music.
As a child, Daye said his grandmother pushed him into music. But he decided to study business in college and worked briefly at American Express after graduating. That changed 15 years ago when Daye decided his true passion is for music and he made the career change, learning the piano, the organ and directing choirs. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and worked with the Queens Symphony Orchestra's Youth Choir. He currently works as the Assistant Minister of Music at St. Albans Congregational Church.
Terrance is very involved in the spiritual side of music. He is currently writing a book on music ministry, and producing a praise and worship CD. He hopes to open a Christian Conservatory of Music in the future.
The two teachers said their experiences are crucial to the high standards they hope to instill in students.
I think we bring a level of professionalism they might not see otherwise, Moryl said, adding he will sometimes bring other professional musicians to the school to perform for the kids.
It's important for kids to see professional musicians, Daye said.
For Campanella, who helped interview Daye and Moryl when the spots were left open four years ago, choosing the teachers was a simple matter of picking the best apples of the bunch.
He and Rodecker both realized Daye and Moryl were the ones for the job after watching them teach a class as a sort of audition to see how they'd do it.
They came in with fresh ideas, Campanella said. They sort of brought in new blood.
Campanella also said Moryl has been crucial to reinvigorating the jazz band, which had floundered into almost non-existence. Now the band has a silver medal from the New York State School Music Association Ensemble Competition under its belt, and the concert band will attend a national competition at the Six Flags in New Jersey in May.
It was at the same competition in 1999 where Daye's jazz choir won first place.
When asked why they enjoy teaching middle school, both Daye and Moryl share a similar answer. They believe the students they teach
