New performing arts teacher Mr. Samuel Frosch fills the vacancy in the Performing Arts department following the departure of Mr. Block mid-year. 

Mr. Frosch, a relatively young teacher, began teaching at Jones at the end of February. Frosch currently leads various music classes: concert band, beginning band, jazz band, intermediate guitar, and an ACES music class.

“This will be my third year teaching. I taught for two years on the West Side at a Pre-K-8th school and I started here at the end of February,” said Frosch. 

Frosch has a lengthy background in all things music, ranging from working for a guitar pedal company in Kansas City to being in a rock band himself. His love for music stemmed from an early exposure to music. 

“I played clarinet and double bass growing up and a little piano and guitar. Throughout high school, I played in concert band, jazz band, marching band, and eventually studied double bass and clarinet in college,” said Frosch. “I’ve played principal bass in an orchestra, guitar in a rock band, bass for a funk band, as well as all the academic groups which have translated really well to what I do here.”

Frosch’s love for music radiates throughout all of his projects, but his true calling has always been teaching. 

“Even though I was working with some really big artists, like John Mayer, The Edge from U2, and Jeff Tweedy from Wilco, I really missed teaching,” said Frosch. “I had an epiphany in about December of last year and decided I wanted to get back into [teaching].” 

Though teaching band at the high school level is a new experience for Frosch, he feels equipped for the task.

“I taught general music and rock band at an elementary school, so this is actually my first band position but I have been working with bands for eight or nine years,” said Frosch. “I worked with a couple of marching bands downstate and then, when I went to college, my primary focus was in instrumental band. Band is a very homey experience for me.”

The performing arts department struggled to find a permanent band teacher all year until Mr. Frosch came in. 

“I’m the third band teacher this school year, so [my students] had a lot of uncertainty,” said Frosch. “I didn’t know if all the students would be welcoming or if they’d be standoffish, which they would be completely within their right to do so, but from the second I walked in, they’ve been ready and willing to try anything.”

So far, Frosch has thoroughly enjoyed working with Jones students. 

“I’ve noticed that all the students here are willing to go with the flow and try new things,” said Frosch. “That’s something really unique about this school community: everybody’s ready to hop on board and see what happens.”

In addition to the overall school community, Frosch explains the resources available at Jones are unlike anywhere he’s taught before. 

“The facilities here are incredible. We have a guitar program where we have [16 to 18] electric guitars in this classroom, 30 acoustic guitars at Mrs. Basa’s room, a full percussion setup, pianos, and drum sets all over the place,” recounted Frosch. “Everything available to us here is state of the art…there are major universities in America that don’t have the performing arts facilities that Jones has.”

In terms of musical interests and inspirations, Frosch enjoys early 90s psychedelic rock bands, jazz, and classic rock. 

“Favorite artist would be The Flaming Lips… I also used to be way more into jazz than I am now, especially when I was in high school and early college, like the Oscar Peterson offshoots in the late 60s,” said Frosch. “A lot of classic rock like Black Sabbath– Ozzy’s amazing as a bass player, Geezer Butler’s an idol, and Tony Iommi is just incredible.”

Frosch hopes students will be open to testing out new ideas and creating a safe space to make mistakes.

“I’m trying my best. Some projects and ideas are going to crumble, but it’s all in the nature of trying new things and seeing what sticks,” said Frosch. “I’m not expecting that every idea or every initiative I have is going to be amazing, but we’re going to try it and see what happens.”