Mr. Hoshi’s Opus
The racket behind the door sounded like a herd of elephants stamping its feet in unison--and to music no less.
When that door swung open, nary a pachyderm was in sight. Instead, there was a diverse group of about 30 high school students moving and grooving to gospel singer Kirk Franklin’s funky “Stomp,” arms lifted, swaying and punching fists in the air.
And stamping their feet. Hard.
In other words, just another day in Ron Hoshi’s dance and music class.
When Hoshi, 40, began teaching vocal music at John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma 13 years ago, only 12 students signed up.
“So many kids used to associate choir with being geeky,” Hoshi said. “There was a stigma. Even if they did have an interest, if they wanted to be considered cool, they wouldn’t be taking choir.”
But something changed.
Today, 475--more than half the school’s students--are enrolled in one or more of Hoshi’s five classes.
“My classes are made up of kids with learning disabilities, cheerleaders, football players, beauty queens, kids who make straight A’s and students from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds,” he said.
What’s behind the turnaround?
According to students, parents and Hoshi’s peers, he is. “Mr. Hoshi makes coming to class fun,” said Nikisha Grier, 18. “He’s teaching us so many important things. He wants us to make the audience feel what we’re singing, and he wants us to feel it as well. He’s inspirational, and he does innovative things in class. He’s the type of teacher who is not afraid to let us explore all types of music and dance. He gets excited about it too.”
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Hoshi--who sometimes brings in choreographers or special performers and takes students to concerts, local theater productions and yearly trips to New York to see Broadway shows--says his classes are so popular because he incorporates what kids like.
“I teach a mixture of pop and R&B;, and we learn and perform music from movies,” he said. “We’re currently working on music from ‘My Best Friend’s Wedding.’ ”
Still, the class isn’t just about having fun.
“We do some things that are on the cutting edge, but I’m also a hard teacher,” he said. “Students have to work for their grade and take music theory, do solos and be tested on dance and music that we’ve introduced in class.”
Grier said the best thing about her teacher is that “he really grabs at our emotions.”
In turn, they tug at his.
“Some of these kids get so enthusiastic that we actually have to get them to tone it down a bit,” Hoshi said, laughing, while watching his students rehearse dance steps. “Aren’t they great, though? Look at those moves; check out the passion they put into it. That’s what it’s all about.
“I tell them that I can teach them the music. I can teach them the dance steps. But only they can add the passion.”
Hoshi grew up in San Pedro and once aspired to become a minister of music for a church.
“I got a vocal music scholarship to Long Beach State, and I majored in music education,” he said. “But it was around that time that I decided I really wanted to be a teacher, and that I wanted to teach high school because I felt that maybe I could better reach kids at that age, and possibly make a difference in their lives.”
He had an example from his own past--Jack Neal, his band teacher at Richard Henry Dana Junior High. “He made music fun, and he inspired me to do what I’m doing today. And I knew that I really didn’t have what it took to be a professional singer, in terms of the talent, drive, and determination, although I did really catch the performing bug after I started teaching.”
In his spare time, Hoshi sings with the Orange County-based Mitch Hanlon Singers and has been featured in some of their performances at the Hollywood Bowl. He’s also sung with Marvin Hamlisch, Nathan Lane and Crystal Bernard.
Some of his students have taken what he’s taught them well beyond the classroom. Roxanne Taga, a 1993 Kennedy graduate, landed a starring role as Kim two years ago in the national touring production of “Miss Saigon”; BMG Records signed Grier as a solo artist and she’s working on her debut album; no release date has been set.
Heady stuff for high school kids, sure.
But it’s especially exhilarating for a teacher, who, like many other arts educators, has had to face budget cuts and deal with the question, almost on a daily basis, of where the money will come from to continue to teach students who yearn to be immersed in the arts.
Hoshi doesn’t receive much from the school to spend on his programs--just $700 this year. Even the most creative teacher can’t stretch $700 far enough to meet the needs of 475 students. So Hoshi has found other ways to get the job done.
“I can tell you just about everything you’d ever want to know about fund-raising,” he said.
From spaghetti dinners to candy sales and car washes to pizza bashes, Hoshi and his classes, with a lot of help from the school’s Perfect Harmony Booster Club, have done it all.
To wit, he said the boosters help to raise about $30,000 annually to aid Kennedy’s arts program.
“I give all the credit to the boosters,” Hoshi said. “Because of all they do, I’m able to do what I need to do. I think it’s very important to instill a work ethic in these students. I want them to see if you work hard for something, it means more.” Take the story of the piano that now sits in a corner of his classroom.
“For the longest time, we had no piano,” Hoshi said. “Can you imagine teaching music with no piano? Well, I was expected to do that, but a program is lacking when you don’t even have access to a piano.
“Thanks to several fund-raisers, as well as some parents and the principal kicking in some of their own money, we got a piano,” Hoshi said. “It has made a big difference, and it allows me to give some one-on-one instruction too.”
Kennedy High Principal Norie Atherton said she took the fairly unusual step of shifting some funds from the school’s general budget to the arts budget to help them secure the piano.
“I’m not normally able to do something like that,” Atherton said. “But Ron runs a wonderful program and does amazing things. I felt like this was important and that we should do this.”
Hoshi said it doesn’t bother him that other school programs, including sports, usually get more money.
“I have to pick my issues,” he said. “And I try to be supportive of anything to do with our school.”
Hoshi said as much as he loves teaching, it still can be a challenge.
“There might be a few kids here or there who are in the class for the social aspect,” he said. “But most of them are here for the right reasons. I like to try and get my students to go outside themselves when performing. That’s the difference between an ordinary performer versus an extraordinary performer.”
Students, too, notice the difference between ordinary and extraordinary teachers.
“Mr. Hoshi is just different,” said Jonathan Konihi, 16. “It’s not the usual type of choir program where you just stand there and practice the songs that the teacher likes. He’s a very open and caring teacher. If a student likes rap, he’ll consider teaching a rap song; if you like another type of music, he’ll consider letting you perform that. He’s cool.”
Jonathan said the students have a great deal of respect for their teacher, in part because of his dedication.
“He doesn’t just tell us that a work ethic is important. He shows us. There are times when I’ve been coming home from being at a friend’s house or something on the weekend, and it might be midnight, and there is Mr. Hoshi’s car in the parking lot at school. He’s there, just working away. That’s how much he cares.”
Michele Stewart, president of the Perfect Harmony Booster Club, agreed.
“He’s a perfectionist and is a very gifted and talented choral director,” Stewart said. “And he has the highest expectations for students. He relates so well to the kids. And as far as the parents are concerned, Ron is the driving force behind everything. He is the arts program at Kennedy.”
Indeed, Hoshi teaches vocal music, solo vocal techniques, ensemble singing, performance techniques and some choreography. Until recently, he was the only arts teacher at Kennedy. Another, Suzanne McElderry, was hired this year to avoid having to turn away students who wish to be part of the booming arts program.
Hoshi’s office gives silent testament to what he is accomplishing: An entire wall is plastered with photos, collages and tributes from students past and present. A steady stream of students stops by his office just to say hello. And he gets notes in the mail from former students when they get married, have children or land performing gigs.
Grier who has been singing since she was 2, and has sung backup for Jon Secada, as well as on Michael Jackson’s “HIStory” album, has high praise for her teacher.
“When I think of what he is teaching us, I have to say he teaches us about everything. And I don’t mean just music or dance. Mr. Hoshi is teaching us about life.”
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In the wings:
* “Stars of Tomorrow,” a concert featuring Orange County youths and Irvine’s University High School Orchestra, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4646 Campus Drive. 3 p.m. Sunday. $10 in advance; $12 at the door. (714) 854-4646.
* “Let’s Go to the Movies,” a song-and-dance revue by the Kennedy Singers of John F. Kennedy High School in La Palma. At Anaheim High School, 811 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim. 7:30 p.m. March 12-14. $6 advance, $7 at the door. (714) 220-3032.
* The performing arts program at Irvine High School is raising money to buy equipment for its newly refurbished theater. For a donation of $100 or more, a donor’s name will be engraved on a plaque attached to the arm of one of the seats in the theater. (714) 551-6399.
Class Acts will appear the final Thursday of each month. Send listings of high school arts events and activities to Class Acts, Calendar Weekend, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, 92626. Or fax to (714) 966-7790, or e-mail to OCWeekend@latimes.com. They will be published as space permits.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
Q & A With Ron Hoshi
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: “He Won’t Let Go,” by Kry, a contemporary Christian group.
Q: Name one thing you feel makes a good teacher.
A: Caring about your students.
Q: What do you think students say about you behind your back?
A: Because I’m single, and since I spend so much time at school, they would probably say: “Mr. Hoshi does’t have a life.”
Q: What has been your proudest achievement as a teacher?
A: A few years ago, there was a girl in one of my classes who auditioned for the part of Maria in “West Side Story.” She was tone deaf. But by the end of her senior year, because of the confidence instilled in her, she had come far enough to sing solo on stage. No, she would never be able to play the part of Maria. But see, it really doesn’t matter. She gained self-esteem.