There are many aspects of DePaul Prep that help make up the community that it is today. Whether it’s athletics, the arts, or academics, there are many reasons why students end up choosing DePaul Prep as their high school of choice. Another factor that has become increasingly popular since the school’s founding, is the music program.
DePaul Prep’s music program offers a variety of classes for students to take. Whether students have been playing an instrument since they could walk or if they have never picked up an instrument, there are plenty of options for students to be a part of the music community.
Jonathan Braun has been a music teacher at DePaul Prep for nine years. He teaches classes such as Music Production, Choir, and Jazz Combo and believes that these classes are unique “because students can have zero music experience, and by simply giving them access to apps such as GarageBand and some other simple music production tools, they can build and create music right away,” said Braun.
Even though there are structured music classes as part of students’ curriculum, this doesn’t stop them from playing outside these 80 minute class periods. When waking through the halls during passing periods, the halls are not only filled with chatter, but with music as well. DePaul Prep students will be in the chapel or in the commons playing the piano, the drums, or even the guitar whenever they get the chance.
Someone that will always be found in the chapel playing an instrument is junior Joel Kumar. Kumar is the co-founder and vice president of the Latin Music Ensemble at DePaul Prep and is part of the drumline. Whenever he gets the chance, Kumar will pick up his instruments and play with his friends throughout the building.
Kumar is a “multi-talented instrumentalist” and has been playing and creating his own music with the Latin Music Ensemble.
“I really like having the freedom to play what I want because the jazz and orchestra classes are very structured,” said Kumar. “Being able to play outside of class gives us our own creativity because we’re able to play the songs that we want, as well as create our own.”
By being able to play freely, this not only gives students more freedom, it also allows them to create a sense of community with other musicians around DePaul Prep. “Music just brings people together and sharing music is a great way to connect with anybody,” said Braun.
The free spirited musicians at DePaul Prep aren’t just those that take music classes, they are also the ones that don’t take a music class at all.
In addition to musicians like Kumar, who play the bass or the drums, there are students who enjoy playing the piano during their free time, such as senior Charlie Malelo.
Malelo has been a part of the cross country and track and field team at DePaul Prep, but also plays the piano in the chapel during his free periods.
“I like how there are different types of extracurricular activities that everyone can enjoy. We have great athletics with competitive athletes and we also have many clubs where people can express their creative side as well,” said Malelo.
Malelo started playing the piano three years ago, but took a break. It wasn’t until his Kairos retreat where “I played the piano in the chapel which reinvigorated my love for playing the piano for others,” said Malelo.
What both of these musicians have in common is their love and passion for music. It allows them to be creative in a way to share their passion with others.
As Braun said, “music can be such a powerful way to express yourself, to find part of your identity as you’re becoming an adult, and to figure out what you like and who you are.”
