I four questions
Flo Robbins Paterni chats with Platinum.
Before they can even read, doz-
in music education from Eastern
ens of youngsters in northwest
Michigan University and a master's
Detroit are learning to make
in teaching from Marygrove College
beautiful music — Thanks to
in Detroit, says spreading the joy of
FLO ROBBINS PATERNI. The
music is her true passion, insist-
34-year veteran teacher in the
ing parents attend her classes so
Detroit Public Schools runs an
they can learn to assist the chil-
innovative program, teaching
dren with practicing. The results
children in kindergarten through
often bring her to tears. "I grew
eighth grade to play the violin by
up in Detroit and went to Hebrew
ear. Each week, she works with
school on the same block where
about 120 students at Pasteur,
I'm teaching," she says. "I just feel
Vernor, Schulze, Barbara Jordan
so overwhelmed that I'm passing on
and MacDowell Elementary schools. "Music is a
to these children the same kind of enjoyment I got.
discipline like none other," Patemi says. "It's self-
Music is not just something you do; it's a part of
satisfying, and the children also learn to play with a
you." Here, we ask Flo Robbins Paterni our version
group. They develop tremendous hearing abilities,
of the Four Questions. — Robin Schwartz
it makes them more appreciative of the arts and
they wind up being better students overall." Paterni,
who lives in West Bloomfield with her husband,
Pat, and children, Lydia, 20, and Spencer, 16, plays
professionally with various groups (she's played
with performers such as Aretha Franklin, John
Denver and Dionne Warwick) and has performed on
several recordings. But this teacher, with a degree
1
WI-LAT BOOK, CD OR
OTHER MEDIA WOULD
YOU LIKE TO SHARE?
I want to give my students the wonder-
ful cultural experiences I had growing
up. I have all of their parents' e-mail
addresses, and I update them on local
jazz and classical concerts. I get free
tickets to the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra when I can. We met my
friend [jazz violinist] Regina Carter last
school year at a special introductory con-
cert at the Max M. Fisher Music Center.
I want to share all of the MySpace and
YouTube clips of famous violinists and
violin groups, especially those of color.
2
WHICH JEWISH FIGURE
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
HAVE BRUNCH WITH?
Leonard Bernstein. He was a prolific
American Jewish composer and conduc-
tor. I always admired his commitment
to educating the public (especially chil-
dren) about music at his Young People's
Concert series. I also think I'd like to
have brunch with Albert Einstein. We
know he wasn't a good student. As a
teacher, it's important to teach all chil-
dren in the way they learn best. How
did he manage to teach himself? What
strategies did he use?
3
WHAT I S YOUR FAVORITE
JEWISH FOOD?
Is gazpacho from the Stage
Deli a "Jewish food"? For Passover
and Thanksgiving, my family meets at
my house, and our family friend Ben
Woznica brings his homemade gefilte
fish and horseradish and the best brisket.
I make my mom's apple-cake recipe,
my bubbie's knaidlach (matzah balls) for
my chicken soup and my Aunt Becki's
Passover rolls. I guess it's the fellowship
that makes the food so special.
4
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE
BE SURPRISED TO KNOW
ABOUT YOU?
I love to watch people — old people
holding hands, moms kissing their
babies, dads playing with their children,
teachers hugging their students. I also
wait every year for the swan family to
parade down my canal with their new
cygnets. I cry every year.
the
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