Q and A with Mr. Landes

Many of us just know of him as the tall, “hard-to-miss” band teacher. However, Mr. Tom Landes proves that he is more than just the “band teacher” as he tells his side of the story.
Mr. Landes started his high school career at Azusa High School. As a member of band in high school, Mr. Landes, who was a trumpet player, greatly enjoyed being a part of his performing group. He remarked that Azusa High school had “good teachers in public education” and that he had a “great high school experience in band.” In fact, because he felt that he had the opportunity to experience such a wonderful band encounter inspired him to become a band teacher. He felt that “if it was so good for me, [I] should make band a good experience for others.” Mr. Landes has taught at AHS for 31 years and also spent five other years teaching at Azusa High School, where he graduated from. Other than band, Mr. Landes’ second most favorite activity in high school was sports. Basketball was a personal favorite sport of his; Mr. Landes made the basketball team in his sophomore year and continued playing through high school and college. One of his fondest memories of his high school life is a basketball game that he participated in. He declared that during that game he “scored over 20 points, had 8-9 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots.”
“Students are the very best part [of band],” remarks Mr. Landes. He feels that it is really amazing how “every class consists of a bunch of different people and personalities, all working together for common goal.” Greatly cherishing the value of a team, Mr. Landes believes “there are few things more valuable than a team.” Following up on his belief of teamwork, Mr. Landes reflects upon how a team can be “the band, family... all [various] kinds [groups] but the impact and dynamics of [all] team[s] are unique and special.”
Mr. Landes’ daily school day schedule includes starting the day first of with marching band in period 1. Band 2 Woodwinds and Band 3 follow chronologically as second and third period. Fourth period is given to be a conference period and period 5 is Band 2 Brass. Mr. Landes concludes his school day with Band 1, the freshmen band, during sixth period.
Being a brass player in high school, Mr. Landes admits that his favorite instruments are all brass instruments, from the “brilliance of trumpets, [the] heroism of French horns, [and the] power of low brass.” Mr. Landes selected a Saint Bernard dog to represent his personality since it “care[s] about people and [are] willing to put themselves aside to rescue people who needs help.”
Next time, you happen to run into Mr. Landes, stop awhile and ask him about himself. You may find out how interesting Mr. Landes’ life really is.

fixed it to be in actual Q and A format
Not many of us know much about Mr. Tom Landes, other than the fact that he is one of the band teachers. The following interview with Mr. Landes will inform you much of Mr. Landes himself, and of his high school life.

Q: First of, please tell me a little background information about yourself.
A: I graduated at Azusa High School, and got my BA (Bachelor of Arts) at Pacific University and my Masters from Southern Oregon University. I taught 5 years at Azusa High, where I graduated from and 31 years at Arcadia High.

Q: Did you participate in band during high school?
A: I was a trumpet player in band. I loved being a member of band; band was my favorite.

Q: Did you have any other extracurricular activities other than band?
A: My second most favorite activity in high school was sports. Basketball was a personal favorite; I made the basketball team in my sophomore year and played through high school and college.

Q: What inspired you to first teach band?
A: The Azusa High school had good teachers in public education and that I had a great high school experience in band. I felt that if it was so good for me, I should make band a good experience for others.

Q: What is your daily schedule?
A: I have marching band for first period, Band 2 Woodwinds for period 3, Band 3, the top band group, period 3, a conference period during fourth period, Band 2 Brass for period 5 and Band 1, the freshmen band, during sixth period.

Q: What do you feel about the relationship between you and your students?
A: I feel that we have a pretty good relationship. The students trust me to take them in the right direction. When people trust you, there’s a strong level of commitment. I try to use humor. I don’t want everything to be formalized.

Q: How do you encourage your students to improve?
A: We talk about what our best is, what it takes to be the best, and view everything else against that image of what “best is like. When we do this, we make progress and improve.

Q: What do you feel is the best part of teaching band?
A: Students are the very best part of band. Every class consists of a bunch of different people and personalities, all working together for common goal. It is a unique experience since there are few things more valuable than a team. A team can be the band, the family, or the church; there are all kinds of teams but the impact and dynamics of all teams are unique and special.

Q: What is your favorite instrument and why?
A: Being a brass player I like all brass instruments, from the brilliance of trumpets, heroism of French horns, power of low brass; they all produce unmistakable sounds.

Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: Do onto others as you will have others do onto you.
Q: What is your fondest memory when you went to high school?
A: I remember a basketball game I played in. During that game I scored over 20 points, had 8-9 rebounds, and blocked 3 shots.

Q: What animal do you choose to best represent your personality?
A: A Saint Bernard dog because it cares about people and are willing to put themselves aside to rescue people who needs help.

I copy edited this article in another post, it is titled "Q&A with Mrs. Tedford and Mr. Landis" or something similar