Several members of this year's Buffalo Music Hall of Fame class are music educators. As a new school year begins this week, WBFO's Eileen Buckley talks to to them about teaching music and performing.
Dr. Joe Baudo is a retired music teacher who taught over 30-years at Sweet Home High School.
"I was a music supervisor there," said Baudo. "I'm an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo also."
As a music educator, Baudo cites the importance of music in a child's education. But he says those seeking a career in music might have some difficulties.
"Unfortunately today they don't have the opportunities that I had when I was younger," said Baudo. "But it is still a great profession. You don't make a lot of money doing it, but it's a great profession."
Baudo is playing jazz music and performs all across the city. The Joe Baudo Big Band performs weekly at the Sportsmen's Tavern in Buffalo. He was surprised to learn that one of his students has also been selected for this year's Buffalo Music Hall of Fame class.
Jack Prybylski is also a retired music educator. He taught for more than 30-years in the Niagara Falls City School District and is a former student of Baudo.
"It's an honor. It's so cool," said Prybylski as he stood with his former teacher.
Baudo was proud to stand with his former student. "He's doing a bang up job in this area," noted Baudo.
"To get that love of performing and music in general. That was probably one of the greatest gifts that he gave myself and other people I graduated from high school with," said Prybylski.
Baudo noted that Prybylski was an excellent student. "He was among many of them," said Bauo.
Prybylski is a nationally know jazz saxophone player. He said as an music educator, you work to pass along your passion and love for music.
"Pretty much just trying to carrying on the tradition," stated Prybylski "Just passing on the tradition, passing on the love for and giving back to younger individuals what I got from my teachers."
Trumpet player Joe Parisi is also a retired music educator. He taught more than 30-years in the Buffalo Public School District. From a classroom perspective, Parisi music education is great value for students.
"I think it is just very important," said Parisi. "Music is a universal language."
Parisi, Prybylski and Baudo all responded to the need to maintain music programs in schools.
People just need to be well-rounded, and music is one of the things the kids definitely need," said Parisi. "Today the kids are being tested to death. You know you just need to balance things out."
"School administrators need to take off the blinders. The documentation is all there. It's been there for decades about the benefits of a music education,"
"What I always said -- being a music administrator -- you turn out a good product and it's very hard for people not to support you and give you the funds you need," said Baudo.
And yet another Buffalo native and music educator has also been named to the 2014 Buffalo Music Hall of Fame class. David Musial is a professor of music and music video productions in New York City. Musical a producer and performer. He an expert in electronic music. The U.S. Department of Education hired Musial to create an anti-violence campaign that aired on MTV.
"It's called Fight for your rights -- Take a stand against violence," said Musial.
Musial's work through the Education Department sends out important messages to the nation's youth.
"It gives the youth of the nation facts about violence and where you can go if you are being bullied, teen suicide, all kinds of information," said Musial.
Musical once worked at the Catholic Diocese Daybreak Productions. He's also written local commercial jingles. Musial is extremely animated. He is also the creator of cartoons including Baydog. Musial points to his earliest experience in music right here at Saint Stanislaus Church in Buffalo. Some of his earliest performances in music were there.
"I became a church organist in Buffalo when I was ten years old," said Musial.
These music educators have inspired many students during their decades of teaching to bring the love and knowledge music to entertain and educate.