by Christy Rodriguez de Conte
In 1982, after four years of playing trumpet for the Marching Chiefs and ultimately graduating Florida State University, Greg Jones had taken a bite of the “FSU apple” and knew he would return. Flash forward to the 2020 pandemic, and Dr. Jones finds himself a new dean of his old alma mater, ready to make a difference.
This week the FSU School of Music and Javacya Arts Conservatory are connecting for a Music Fest at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall.
The human brain receives music with open pathways and welcomes the electricity caused by the combination of pitch, melody, and tonality. Research conducted by The Institute For Music & Brain Science shows music’s ability to spark activity in all areas of the brain.
Music scholar, educator, and practitioner Greg Jones has molded his pedagogy around igniting the entire brain and human being through music. From a young age, Jones found a deep connection to music.
“I can tell you a moment in junior high all-state band in Daytona Beach… where I first really felt that feeling playing music and that emotional connection. That was a stunning moment to me,” Jones said. “We usually say in this profession that you don’t choose music; the music chooses you. And that’s a moment where I can look back and say the music really chose me there.”
This choice led to a long-lasting relationship between music and education. A first-generation college student, Jones received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Florida State University and a Master in Music Education from the University of North Texas. He also received a Doctoral in Musical Arts and a Doctorate in Music Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music.
For Jones, music inspires a spirit of giving that stems from the most human level. He takes the lead from modern-day philosopher Simon Sineks, who has encouraged Jones to discover his “why,” “how,” and “what.”
“I learned that my ‘why’ is actually connecting to people. My ‘how’ is using music, my ‘what’ was playing the trumpet for a large part of my life, and now it’s being an administrator.” Jones has played in orchestras, philharmonics, and symphonies across the country while mentoring and shaping those he met. This ability to combine scholarly work with performance is a welcome shift in academia for those who walk the line between “academic” and “artist.”
Read more on the Tallahassee Democrat.
English
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish
