A Musical Family Affair
by Ellen Orr, photos by Molly Minter
The Loanzon sisters will never doubt the importance of education after watching their parents, John and Leslie, sacrifice comfort and stability to learn, to teach, and, ultimately, to be happy. He could have pursued architectural design; she could have stuck with accounting. But without music, the two self-proclaimed band nerds wanted for more.
John, Leslie, and Kathryn want for their girls what they themselves got from music: strong character, appreciation for the arts, and, ultimately, happiness. “I saw something the other day that said, ‘You don’t want to live for Friday,’” Leslie said. “You’ve got to do what you love.”
Having met as underclassmen in LSU’s music program, John and Leslie fell in love and married mid-degrees in 2000. They soon after had their first daughter, Anna. Continuing at LSU proved too strenuous for the new parents, so in 2004, having recently had their second daughter, Emma, the family of four moved to Pensacola, Florida, where John’s parents owned a house that had been wrecked by Hurricane Ivan. In exchange for repairing the damages, they lived rent-free. John enrolled at University of West Florida where he finished his degree in music education; his ultimate goal was to teach high school band.
In 2006, Leslie’s mother, Kathryn Minton, moved in with them. Kathryn was from near New Orleans, and her home had just been ravished by Katrina. In 2007, they had their third daughter, Mia. Three years later, the family moved to Gainesville, where John worked as a band director and Leslie in a call center. Leslie considered enrolling at the local university to finish an accounting degree, but she just couldn’t make herself do it; she knew she needed to pursue music. When the University of Florida wouldn’t accept her transfer credits, John gave up his job, and the family moved back to Louisiana, where Leslie could apply her credits toward a music education degree. They made Shreveport their home base, with John traveling to Bossier City for a band-director job, and Leslie traveling to Natchitoches for classes at Northwestern.
In 2012, John applied for a band director position at Texas High. Leslie drove him to the interview and waited for him in the car. She looked in awe at the newly built Math and Science Building and the Sullivan Performing Arts Center and called her mother, who recalls her saying, “Mama, this school—you should see it. It looks so nice! John will never get this job.” But he did get the job and subsequently moved into the Links Apartments while Leslie and the rest of the family remained in Shreveport until Leslie finished her degree. After a year, they reunited in Texarkana. Another band director position opened up with TISD, and Leslie was hired as the obvious choice.
Today, John and Leslie team-teach grades six through twelve alongside the other band directors, about whom they have nothing but good things to say. “We work with really great people,” Leslie said. John agreed, adding, “It’s a very familial atmosphere.” Their collective aim isn’t to produce professional musicians, though the program does graduate a handful of music majors each year. Instead, they focus on teaching music literacy and appreciation. “Our goal is not just to make musicians, but to make lovers of music,” Leslie said. “We need people to support the arts.” That said, they say that music is only about ten percent of what they actually teach; the “invisible curriculum” is all about character traits. Band members must arrive at school at 7 a.m. every morning, and latecomers have to perform “burpees,” or squat thrusts. From this, they learn punctuality and responsibility. The inherent togetherness of band teaches teamwork. And the rigorous practices—and gratifying rewards—teaches work ethic.
The rewards, which often come in the forms of performing well and winning competitions, are increasing every day. “Texas High is at the brink of opening better shows, better drills, better music, and the kids can taste that,” said Kathryn, who is also a musician, having performed in the LSU band and taught flute lessons as an adult.
“We try to instill in them a sense of excellency,” John said. Leslie added, “We push them because we want them to feel what we have felt when we’ve done well. Try your best every rep.”
This is true not only for their students but also for their daughters, all who love music as their parents do. Anna (17), who plays trumpet, French horn, and trombone, has recently found a love of dance through participating in the color guard. Emma (14) is an oboist, flutist, and bassist. Mia (11) loves to sing and will begin band when she enters middle school next year.
“We feel [music education is] almost as important as reading, writing, and math,” John said. Kathryn noted also that music education is a proven enhancer of reading, writing, and math skills.
