Rhonda Buckley

Michigan Nightlight: What does being a leader mean to you?
MSU Community Music School-Detroit Executive Director Rhonda Buckley: I am passionate about establishing a structure that will allow teachers to do their best teaching and students to do their best learning. Getting the right people in the right place is a big part of being a leader. Take Dewayne McAllister (Mr. Mac), for instance. Mr. Mac is a retired DPS music teacher. He is at Community Music School-Detroit every Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. greeting his young charges for their beginning percussion class. Those students look up to Mr. Mac. He is a kind, caring teacher who has clear guideposts and rules of behavior for his students. Mr. Mac is not easy. He is not a pushover, but those kids are back every single Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.
 
What is your dream for kids?  
If every young person had the opportunity to explore their giftedness and find the thing that makes them more fully who they are, that would be it. For many kids, that thing is music. I’ve seen young people who, after being introduced to an instrument through the Community Music School, have become more confident and at ease. At CMS-Detroit, kids can start an instrument in 5^th grade, attend weekly classes, practice at home, and, in a year or two, join the CMS Detroit jazz program,

I've seen young people who, after being introduced to an instrument through the Community Music School, have become more confident and at ease.

which is taught by MSU jazz faculty and jazz studies mentors. What an amazing opportunity it is for young people to interact on that level, to begin to see themselves not only graduating from high school, but going to college. And, all because they picked up an instrument one day at CMS.
 
What is one concrete thing that could be done to improve the environment for arts education in Michigan?
If arts education funds were distributed in a just and equal manner, and if there were enough to go around, we would be off to a great start. Seems that the most equal distribution would occur if school systems could prioritize financial resources to go toward arts education. With budgets being so tight, this often does not happen. As test scores decline, the needs for arts education as part of the school day becomes more apparent. It is my hope that we can make a strong case for why arts education should be integrated into the school day again.
 
How do you know you’re making progress?
When a young person picks up an instrument, finds the discipline to learn to play and practice that instrument, shows up for classes, signs up for the recital and has the confidence to get up on stage, introduce herself, perform a piece and take a bow, then I know that we are making progress.
 
What are you most proud of?
I am so very proud of the faculty at the MSU Community Music School-Detroit. They care very deeply about the well-being and education of the young people who walk in our doors. I’ve seen the outcome of this caring mentoring when our youth

I've seen the outcome of this caring mentoring when our youth greet their teachers and peers warmly, when they offer to help prepare the room for rehearsal or a concert, and when they prepare to do their very best in preparation for a recital.

greet their teachers and peers warmly, when they offer to help prepare the room for rehearsal or a concert, and when they prepare to do their very best in preparation for a recital.
 
What originally drew you to your current profession?
I can’t imagine my life without music and can’t stand the thought of an individual not having the opportunity to pursue music if that is what he or she feels called to. I was born in Detroit and attended MSU. After getting degrees in music education and music performance, I moved to Florida to perform at Walt Disney World and teach at Central Florida Community College. What I learned was that I needed to deepen my education to better understand the needs of children and families in order to be an effective teacher.

That need took me to Washington, DC, where one year of volunteer work turned into 15 years, a degree in business, and the founding of a multidisciplinary arts center for inner-city youth, called Sitar Arts Center. When I was asked to consider the associate dean position at the MSU College of Music, I found that both MSU and the College of Music were interested in developing programs in Detroit. That is when I decided to come back home and see what MSU and Detroit could do together to bring music to our community.