frontlines
His Love Of Music Inspires Youth
I
Karen Schultz Tarnopol
12, in the Maas Chapel at Temple Beth El in Bloomfield
Township. The concert is also a tribute to his grandmother
Matilda "Mattie" Fredrick of Southfield for her 90th birthday.
n just his second year teaching in the Berkley School
With all that this young teacher has accomplished, it is not
surprising the BHS PTA nominated him as their teacher of
District, Alan Posner has been selected as the Berkley
High School Educator of the Year for 2012-2013 for his
the year.
exemplary commitment to education.
Over the past two years, Berkley has experi-
Posner, 26, of Ferndale is director of bands
PP
enced a marked growth in the number of stu-
for both Berkley High School (BHS) and Norup
dents involved in band as well as exceptional
International School. He teaches and directs
retention rates.
the marching band, jazz band, classical band
"Man Posner brings an unprecedented
and the symphony band. And, if that's not
amount of energy and enthusiasm to the
Berkley High School band program:' Principal
enough, he also directs and is one of the origi-
nal members of Temple Beth El's Kidz Klez
Randy Gawel says. "Alan is committed abso-
Band of Michigan founded by the late Cantor
lutely to his work with his band, and his efforts
Steven Dubov. All five bands perform at events
in the last two years have been met with out-
throughout the year.
standing results:'
Like most of us, Posner was asked to choose
Posner strives to make his students not only
an instrument in the fourth grade and strug-
great musicians but also good people.
gled between the viola and the saxophone. He
"Although he tells us to do our personal
chose the saxophone because he loved the Pink Alan Posner
best, he doesn't pressure us to be the best:' says
Abbie Baker, freshman band student at BHS.
Panther theme song and wanted to learn to
play it, which he could do by the fifth grade.
"He teaches us that in order to be a great band we must listen
Posner knew early on that music was what he was meant
to each other and try to become better as a whole:'
Hana Coon, freshman drum major at BHS, adds "Mr.
to do. "Band was actually the first thing that I was just natu-
rally better at then everybody, and it drove me to work hard
Posner is not just a teacher, he is a mentor, a friend, and I
to get better at playing:' he says.
know he would also like to think of himself as a part-time
He studied instrumental music education at the University
comedian. I'm proud to be his student."
While many schools are cutting music programs, Posner
of Michigan, where he learned to play and teach every instru-
ment, including voice.
says, "I'm glad Berkley has always been supportive of the
"I have always loved acting and singing:' Posner says,
arts. Music education is important; not every student will
reflecting on his years in the Broadway Review at Temple
major in music, but every student will gain a lifelong appre-
Beth El. "Being part of Kidz Klez has been a really important
ciation of the arts.
part of my life; music is how I connected to Judaism:'
"I love music and the impact it can have in our lives. It's
Posner is in his second year as Kidz Klez director and is
my goal for my students to have music be their inspiration:'
preparing for a Mother's Day concert at 2 p.m. Sunday, May
Posner says.
Contributing Writer
I
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JN CONTENTS trieJEwisHNEws.cor
May 9-15, 2013 I 29 Iyar-6 Sivan 5773 I Vol. CXLIII, No. 14
Around Town
26
Arts/Entertainment .. 55
Business
42
45
Business Memos
32
Calendar
Dining Around the D . 22
Food
60
Health
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Home
36
24, 40
Israel
Letters
5
Life Cycles
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Marketplace
68
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8
Next Generation
34
Obituaries
75
Out & About
57
Points Of View
46
Sports
64
Staff Box/Phone List ...6
Synagogue List
50
Torah Portion
48
World
40
Columnist
Danny Raskin
62
Shabbat and Holiday Lights
Shabbat: Friday, May 10, 8:24 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, May 11, 9:33 p.m.
Shavuot, Day 1: Tuesday, May 14, 8:29 p.m.
Shavuot, Day 2: Wednesday, May 15, 9:37 p.m.
Holiday ends: Thursday, May 16, 9:39 p.m.
Shabbat: Friday, May 17, 8:32 p.m.
Shabbat Ends: Saturday, May 18, 9:41 p.m.
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Yehudah calendar.
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