New Teacher Expanding School’s Musical Capability

Jim Little, new instrumental music teacher at Northwest Academy, has donated equipment for the school’s band room and studio.

Little said that he wants to create a quality music program. Some of the new equipment includes drums and hardware, amps, mics and recording equipment.

According to Little, these materials will help make the students better musicians, as well as better technicians, as this equipment is comparable to what one might find in a professional recording studio.

“The cymbals that we have now sound like a baby crying,” Little said.

Northwest Academy only used to have two working mics. Now, the school has 12.

“Mics are important in having a good band, because through mics, everyone can be heard,” Little said.

The students are ecstatic about the new equipment, particularly the amps.

“This is the best amp that I have played on in a while,” Aidan Gillespie, a freshman, said.

Students still need to help rearrange the band room and recording studio. Recently, a group of students, including freshmen Niko Karrasik and Gillespie, helped take apart shelves to make the band room bigger in order to accommodate the new equipment.

Mary Folberg, Head of School, contacted Little about taking over for former band director John Savage. Despite his success in Southern California, Little agreed to move to Portland and take the position. Folberg thinks that Little will make a big difference at this school.

“Jim is one of the unique music educators in the country,” Folberg said.

Previously, Little taught a band of teenagers called Heat Wave in Southern California. From time to time he will travel to Southern California to perform gigs with them.

Little enjoys all types of music including rock, pop, metal, jazz and blues.

“I think he innovative and he really cares about his students,” Asher Marlin, a freshman, said.