Many people know Elemental Music through our program directors and our coaches – the faces of the people who are in front of the students every week. But behind the scenes, Elemental Music has a Board of Directors who guide the vision of the organization and lead us into the future.
This year, we are celebrating one of our directors, Janie Docter, for her long tenure on Elemental Music’s Board of Directors. Janie has been with the organization since we were just a single orchestra of 25 students, and has been a part of the huge growth of the organization.
We loved talking with Janie about why she first joined the board, her reasons for sticking with us long after her children aged out of our programs, and much more!
Brian Driscoll (President of the Board), Marcia Capparela (Secretary), and Janie Docter
Elemental Music: You are Elemental Music's longest serving board member! Can you tell us just how long you have been a member of our Board of Directors?
Janie Docter: This will be my 10 year anniversary serving on the board. I often joke that I am the oldest board member.
EM: What inspired you to be on the board originally?
JD: I was introduced to Elemental Music when my oldest, Jordan, was a part of the program. She was in fourth and fifth grade playing the violin and at that time, Elemental Music was actually just Elemental Strings.
During those two years was a transitional phase and changes. The first year Jordan was involved, the program was under the Maestro Foundation. In the second year and with the encouragement of Maestro, Elemental Strings struck out on its own under the helm of our current Executive Director, Dr. Jo. Jordan was already out of the program by the time I joined Elemental Music as a board member, but I had witnessed the excellent service it provided for young musicians in our community and was thrilled to be a part of it.
EM: Can you talk a little bit about your own musical background? Does music still play an important role in your life?
JD: I studied the piano and the violin growing up at a young age. To be honest, I had a love-hate relationship with both instruments by the end of my high school years. I quit my music education all together by the time I entered college until I had children of my own and they started playing instruments.
I have volunteered as assistant coach on the violin and viola as well as resident Piano Accompanist at Grant Elementary school for many years. I also recently joined the SMC community orchestra, dusting off my violin. And these days, I particularly enjoy hosting sing-alongs for my friends and family as I accompany them on the piano. I thank my lucky stars that I had the fortune of learning to play these instruments which bring me so much joy.
EM: Your own children have long since graduated from our programs. Why do you continue to be involved after all of these years?
JD: I truly believe in our mission of celebrating music making through our youth music programs. Elemental Music has grown exponentially in the last 10 years and it has been very exciting to see all of these wonderful changes and to be a part of it. I have grown so much myself through my involvement in this program and continue to evolve.
EM: You have a unique perspective because you have seen Elemental Music grow from just a single orchestra to a much larger organization. How do you feel about the journey we've been on?
JD: I touched upon it a bit already, but it has been so exciting to be a part of this journey as Elemental Music continues to grow. I have witnessed so many happy young musicians and their families. It’s not just about music but it is a community builder. The skills that Elemental Music participants learn here are carried with them far through all aspects of their lives.
EM: What is your favorite part of being involved with the organization?
JD: Elemental Music has been fortunate to work with the Santa Monica Education Foundation on our Bergmann Project. We are able to provide private lessons to young musicians who might not otherwise be able to get private lessons. I am especially passionate about this program because I saw firsthand, while volunteering at Grant, the divide between musicians who have private lessons versus those who do not. And the divide gets exponentially bigger as they get older. At Elemental Music, we felt that it was very important for the Bergmann students to have continuous lessons throughout the year and have worked hard to fundraise in order to make that happen each year.
I also love our alumni competition program. It gives our alums a chance to revisit Elemental Music and have a chance to win a small amount of scholarship which can be used in support of their music education.
EM: Do you have a favorite Elemental Music memory?
JD: One of my favorite Elemental Music memories is when we first added Elemental Band as a program. I was hopeful that my son Ethan, who played the alto saxophone, could be a part of this excellent organization. It was my first glimpse into what Elemental Music would become. It was exciting to be a part of the change and see the growth potential.
Another favorite is when Richard Meyer was commissioned to compose A Musical Passport in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Elemental Strings, our very first program. The piece, featuring melodies from around the world, was a perfect representation of the program.
EM: Is there anything else that you’d like to add?
JD: I feel so fortunate to be a part of an organization that brings people together through music. I enjoy witnessing our Elemental Music graduates go on to accomplish so much more in the music programs in their later years as well as the non-music world. It seems like many of our graduates are instrumental in taking leadership roles and contributing so much more throughout the years, especially in the high school music programs. It should be noted that Jordan recently graduated from college with a Minor in Music and I truly believe Elemental Music played a part in that. I have grown so much myself and look forward to growing even more!
If anyone reading is interested in what this wonderful organization does, please click on this link to watch Somewhere Over the Rainbow from our latest concert, arranged by one of our own program directors, Peter Senchuk.