Mr. Cover! The Instrumental Music Director at Modesto High School.
Mr. Cover grew up in Modesto and has degrees in Performance, Music Education, and Conducting from Modesto Junior College, California State University East Bay, and the University of Michigan. In addition to now teaching at Modesto High, and has taught at Davis High School, Hickman School Middle and Charter Schools, and the Modesto Junior College.
During the summer he is the Assistant Conductor and Manager for the Modesto Band of Stanislaus County - or MoBand. He also co-directs the Gottschalk Music Center Concert Band, a group of Central Valley adult musicians, year round. For over 15 years, he has also been the Musical Director for Modesto Performing Arts, directing musicals such as Oklahoma!, Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, 42nd Street, The Sound of Music and many more.
When not conducting, Mr. Cover is a woodwind specialist. His primary instrument is the clarinet but is proficient in performing on all woodwinds (except the bassoon… his nemesis!). Mr. Cover even sings! He tries very hard to also fit singing with the Modesto Symphony Chorus, and for 6 years was a choir director for the First United Methodist Church in Modesto.
Finally, as most music teachers are affiliated with various professional music organizations in an effort to stay informed with the latest trends, teaching tools and annual conferences, Mr. Cover is a member of CBDA, NCBA, NAfME, SCMEA, and CODA.
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Mr. Cover grew up in Modesto and has degrees in Performance, Music Education, and Conducting from Modesto Junior College, California State University East Bay, and the University of Michigan. In addition to now teaching at Modesto High, and has taught at Davis High School, Hickman School Middle and Charter Schools, and the Modesto Junior College.
During the summer he is the Assistant Conductor and Manager for the Modesto Band of Stanislaus County - or MoBand. He also co-directs the Gottschalk Music Center Concert Band, a group of Central Valley adult musicians, year round. For over 15 years, he has also been the Musical Director for Modesto Performing Arts, directing musicals such as Oklahoma!, Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret, 42nd Street, The Sound of Music and many more.
When not conducting, Mr. Cover is a woodwind specialist. His primary instrument is the clarinet but is proficient in performing on all woodwinds (except the bassoon… his nemesis!). Mr. Cover even sings! He tries very hard to also fit singing with the Modesto Symphony Chorus, and for 6 years was a choir director for the First United Methodist Church in Modesto.
Finally, as most music teachers are affiliated with various professional music organizations in an effort to stay informed with the latest trends, teaching tools and annual conferences, Mr. Cover is a member of CBDA, NCBA, NAfME, SCMEA, and CODA.
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Why I Teach Music
I don't teach music because it is a science - even though you deal with acoustics.
I don't teach music because it is a math - even though you have to subdivide beats.
I don't teach music because it is a foreign language - even though
you need to know foreign terms in Italian, French, German, etc.
I don't teach music because it is history - even though
music always reflects a part of our time.
I don't teach music because it is a physical education - even though
you march around and spend countless hours practicing
in order to coordinate your fingerings.
I don't teach music because it is an art - even though it allows
a human being to take dry and boring things and create an emotion.
I don't teach music because I expect you to go out and major in music.
I don't teach music because I expect you to
play or sing for the rest of your life, although I'd like you to.
I don't teach it to you so you can relax and have fun either.
I don't teach music for any of these reasons.
I teach it to you so that you will be more human
- so that you will recognize beauty
- so you will be sensitive
- so that you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world
- so you'll have something to cling to
- so that you will have more compassion,
more gentleness, more goodness, and in short
- so that you will have more life.
That is why I teach music.
I don't teach music because it is a science - even though you deal with acoustics.
I don't teach music because it is a math - even though you have to subdivide beats.
I don't teach music because it is a foreign language - even though
you need to know foreign terms in Italian, French, German, etc.
I don't teach music because it is history - even though
music always reflects a part of our time.
I don't teach music because it is a physical education - even though
you march around and spend countless hours practicing
in order to coordinate your fingerings.
I don't teach music because it is an art - even though it allows
a human being to take dry and boring things and create an emotion.
I don't teach music because I expect you to go out and major in music.
I don't teach music because I expect you to
play or sing for the rest of your life, although I'd like you to.
I don't teach it to you so you can relax and have fun either.
I don't teach music for any of these reasons.
I teach it to you so that you will be more human
- so that you will recognize beauty
- so you will be sensitive
- so that you will be closer to an infinite beyond this world
- so you'll have something to cling to
- so that you will have more compassion,
more gentleness, more goodness, and in short
- so that you will have more life.
That is why I teach music.