PAINESVILLE, Ohio — Participating in band changed the trajectory of Amir Jones’ life.
“I just didn't really have any motivation in middle school or going into freshman year of high school,” Jones explains. “For some reason, nothing really inspired me. The only class I actually did well in was band … That just got me wanting to go to school more.”
Now, more than 20 years later, the Lake County native is sharing the transformational power of music education as the instrumental music teacher at Harvey High School in Painesville.
Jones now knows that each note students play provides more for them than just a musical sound.
“I think it (music education) teaches our students a whole lot more than just … learning how to play their instruments, which is again a big part of it,” Jones says. “But I just see these students coming in 9th grade and seeing what they transform into by the time they're seniors, and there's so many skills they learned.”
For Jones and his students, being a part of the band empowers personal change.
“I used to be more shy, but ever since I got into the band, I started speaking out more,” explains Junior Alan Jacinto.
Jacinto says Jones helped him escape his comfort zone, using the band to challenge him to lead.
“(It) made me meet a lot of new people and yeah, just learn new things about Marching Band,” Jacinto says.
Jacinto, who plays the trumpet, is now a field commander.
“It's really their program,” Jones adds. “I'm just facilitating for them to do what they do in it … Letting students take a leadership role in what you do is really important. Everything we do, they have their hands in something.”
That philosophy has led Jones to success. At just 35 years old, the Painesville Township native has already been recognized as a national Yamaha top “40 under 40” music instructor. He was a quarterfinalist for the 2023 Music Educator Award from the Recording Academy and Grammy Museum. Also, this past August, Jones won a music teacher award from the iconic singer and songwriter Barry Manilow, bringing in $5,000 for him and $5,000 for the school to purchase new instruments.
“Each one is kind of surprising to me because I feel like I'm just coming and doing what you're supposed to do,” Jones says. “It’s really nice to know that the community is so behind what we do here, and they really buy into the program, and they buy into the kids, and they want to see them succeed.”
The accolades read like a musical score, arranged to represent Jones's impact on students during his 16-year career at the high school.
“He helps you like have a voice,” says Sophomore Trombone Player EJ Wilson. “He helps you like know how to do certain things so you can become a leader.”
“He's the reason why I made new friends, why I talk to more people,” adds Sophomore Tuba Player Samantha Rodriguez Jacinto.
Edelina Tavares Bustos, a junior at Harvey High who plays the flute, says Jones was one of three teachers who inspired her to pursue a career in education after high school because of the example he set.
“He's just a great teacher. He's always there for us. He's helping us,” Tavares Bustos says. “He’s made an impact in our lives, and I want to be someone that kids remember.”
For Jones, tomorrow is like a song yet to be composed.
When asked, “What’s the future like for you?” He responds, “You know, I don't know. We'll see. I guess I just want to keep progressing the way we are and see how far we could push this.”
Jones says he has grown the band program at Harvey High School from about 35 students to about 160 musicians this year.
The Cleveland Cavaliers have also honored him with their Head of the Class award, and in October, the 2006 high school grad will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame at his alma mater, Riverside High School, in Painesville Township.
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