Sun Ra and the Middle School Symphony: OUSD Music Teacher Retires After Forty Years

Porter truly believes in the musical potential of children of all ages. When he became the music education director of the Berkeley Symphony, he would have the orchestra perform pieces composed by 5-year-old children. And over the years, he’s created opportunities for his elementary and middle school students to record their own albums — something he does for his middle school students.

Porter is the type of teacher who provides a safe environment for her students to practice, socialize and have a snack after school. But this is Mr. Porter’s teaching last year because he is retiring.

At this time, the future of music classes in Oakland public schools is uncertain due to upcoming budget cuts across the state. Porter didn’t want arts education to fall by the wayside so he began fundraising for Roosevelt’s music program.

“[The arts] it is an important part of a child’s development. Music, art, PE, tinkering with your hands — that’s how kids learn,” he said. And if you take them away, some part of the population is left behind,” Porter said.

There are many benefits for students who study and play music. A study conducted by the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that learning music improves auditory pathways in the brain, which can help in other learning processes affected by these sensory pathways such as reading and language. In 2022, the policy took a turn for the worse when California voters passed Proposition 28, which requires the state to provide more funding for music and arts programs in public schools.

For students like seventh-grader Diego, Porter’s band class wasn’t a natural fit when he entered middle school. “It was very strange,” Diego said of the jazz music. “I was like, ‘Are people going to want to listen to this?’ I didn’t even want to play it at first.” But, he marched forward.

“I hesitated and just stuck to it,” he said. “I love that there are so many different possibilities and combinations to make any one unique.”

One of Porter’s seventh-graders, Imani, who plays guitar, became interested in playing Sun Ra’s music in band class. “All the parts are very different and they all come together to be a joy,” she said.

Some of Porter’s former students have gone on to greater heights, like 10th grader Ryan, who returns to Porter’s classroom in Roosevelt every Thursday to teach middle school students. When Ryan came to Porter’s class about five years ago, he had some experience playing the violin and had taken up the cello. But Porter’s jazz-infused band class introduced something new.

“I just got excited about being in music class…that’s when I started thinking, ‘wait, I need to switch to a jazz-friendly instrument,'” Ryan said.

So, at Porter’s suggestion, Ryan took up his third instrument – the trombone. “It really opened up a whole new world for me,” Ryan said.

Now, he plays a total of fifteen instruments, is a member of the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars Band, and has played in a youth orchestra for three years, all with Porter’s encouragement.

Middle school students are an age group that is notorious in schools and among teachers for their unpredictability, high energy, and increased social awareness. But if you can tap into their interests, the potential for growth is what Porter finds most exciting about this age group, he said.

He plans to be an active member of the local music education community when he retires, but the students will miss him the most. “I want to be useful. I want to teach teachers. I want to do what I can to see things continue to be successful,” he said.

But he will also make time to return to the world of professional music. This summer you can catch Porter performing at one of his annual gigs, Chapel of the Chimes.