How many does it take to make a difference: ONE

It only took one person to be the catalyst for an entire series of seminars.

"In my class last semester, I had an outstanding student, named Ruben Calderon, who submitted an amazing final paper on rap/hip hop and education," said Dena Kay Jones, keyboard division coordinator from the department of music.  "It was truly fascinating to me because in addition to his interesting story dedicated to his life and rap/hip hop, he began his essay with this argument:  ‘Most faculty do not know what motivates students today.'  His thought floored me and I began to wonder if he was correct."

Jones decided to investigate Calderon's thesis and found that some faculty members do not know how to motivate students. So she took matters into her own hands and decided to motivate students around the entire campus by organizing a group of seminars this semester called "ONE: How many people does it take to make a difference?" Inspired by the book written by Dan Zadra and Kobi Yamada, guest speakers come and talk to students and faculty about how they use music and how it has helped them advance in life.

"It is a challenge for educators because of evolving society," Jones said. "With ONE, we are trying to find the motivating factor to help drive our students."

While most students going to the seven-part seminar series (the fourth seminar is set to take place on March 25) have music-based majors, Jones believes that all students could benefit from ONE.

Calderon, freshman kinesiology major, does not believe that there is just one thing that motivates all students.

"I think that every student has his or her own way of getting motivated," Calderon said. "I personally feel that music is a motivational tool through the strong lyrics of artists that relate to students as well as the sounds. My personal motivation comes from the lyrics and music of hip hop artists like Lil Wayne. His lyrics can identify with many students who find themselves unmotivated."

Calderon believes that the disconnect between educators and students on the subject of hip-hop and rap can be chalked up to differing opinions on the art of music.

"I think that Dr. Jones and her colleagues didn't really understand hip-hop/rap because it is directed towards discourse communities like teenagers and even those who live in rich hip hop culture areas," Calderon said. "It can also be that hip hop/rap isn't their ‘taste' for music."

Jones found this to be a challenge for educators and a sign of the times. Society has evolved and the faculty has to be open to change.

"I worry that the art of developing one's skills in music performance may get lost somehow because music study is not downloadable in many ways," Jones said. "Students must spend hours a day in the practice rooms developing their art."

 Jones said that the process of making art is a slow and painstaking process that includes no shortcuts.

"The last aspect of all of this is getting students involved and getting them motivated," Jones said.  "If a student can find something he or she really is impassioned by, then I know there is no stopping him or her.   And that is exciting."

While Jones believed that her opinion on the downside of technology tends to be one that the younger generation does not have, Calderon, however, shares her belief.

"I agree with her because technology can be harmful to musicians that learn the craft, just as she has, instead of programs that generate sounds to make music. Technology is a big part of today's society. But I also don't think that technology could capture the same emotion and playing as with classically trained musicians do every time they play."

Calderon is comforted by the role he played in the seminars' creation because of the higher goal that ONE is aiming for.

"I feel extremely humbled that I was able to be the catalyst for the ONE seminars," Calderon said. It is great that students and faculty can become motivated from these seminars. Especially knowing that these seminars are a positive influence."

While these presentations might have a little in common with the type of presentations that students have come to expect from college, Jones points out that this isn't the same experence of watching a professor talk in front of a board or powerpoint presentation.

"There is a multimedia aspect to these presentations, like video or digital and live music," Jones said.  "The guests use a microphone and everybody sits on stage - it's all very informal but with a sense of community.  We also have these people demonstrate their art and their craft."

While some might not understand hip hop and rap music, using music to motivate is not unheard of.

"I believe music helps promote passive thought development," said Jon Floresca, senior pre-medical major "However, music without lyrics helps me the most. Jazzy stuff like Nujabes."

The upcoming presentation at noon on March 25 at the Fox Fine Arts Recital Hall has guest speaker David Montalvo, six time U.S. National Taekwondo team member and owner of Champions TAE Kwon DO. Montalvo, like all the speakers at ONE, uses hip hop and rap music to help motivate himself and those he helps practice.

Matthew Munden may be reached at prospector@utep.edu