Fox helps grow music programs at Fort Scott schools

Matthew Resnick/Tribune photo James Fox, seen here in his office, is currently in his 11th year as the Fort Scott High and Middle School band director. Under his direction, the music program has experienced an increase in student participation. Fox credits the overall success of the FSHS and FSMS music program to "hard working students."

Missouri native and music aficionado James Fox is now in his 11th year as Fort Scott High School and Middle School band director. Fox said when he first settled into the position in 2003, the school's music program was floundering.

"During my interview, they were actually looking for someone that would stay a while and really help solidify the program," Fox said. "When I arrived we had 18 kids in high school band and we had about 75 in the entire program. And at our height (since 2003) we've had 76 (students) in high school band and we had maybe 350 (total) in the program. And so we've tried to up the participation, and I really feel like we've done that."

Fox credits the music program's turnaround to his current and former students.

"Honestly, (we have) a lot of hard-working kids," he said. "(We had) a lot of kids that took an interest, that held each other accountable, that worked extraordinarily hard, took good instruction and worked diligently in order to achieve success. It's really the kids that do the work and I'm just lucky enough to be the guy to wave the baton."

Fox who is a 1998 graduate of Forsyth High School (Mo), earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Baker University in 2003. In 2010, Fox completed his first Master's degree, which was a Master's of Music from Kansas State University. In 2013, he earned a Master of Science in Educational Leadership from Pittsburg State University.

Fox attended school in Nevada, Mo., from the third grade until junior high. It was there where Fox said he first became interested in music.

"I started in band in Nevada and chose the trumpet, and really enjoyed just learning to play music and learning to play an instrument," he said.

Fox said he really began to evolve as a musician while in high school band where he was a member of Forsyth High School's band and choir programs.

"We were able to take a lot of trips and have a lot of experiences that your normal high school doesn't get to have," Fox said. "We performed for (former President of the United States) Bill Clinton when he was in office at the White House, which is cool. We got to perform on the Today Show in New York City. That's really cool. I had the opportunity to perform and do a little bit of television stuff, get to see some of the behind the scenes things you don't normally get to see from your television set. And we performed at the Statue of Liberty on the (New York) trip."

Fox said he considers himself a brass player first and foremost, with euphonium as his major instrument in college.

"In order to be a music teacher, a band director, you really need to know how to play all the instruments, at least at a functional level, be it the flute or the clarinet or saxophone or percussion," Fox said. "But I'm mainly a brass guy."

Fox, who spends his mornings at the high school and afternoons at the middle school, said he enjoys getting the opportunity to see kids grow not only as musicians but as people.

"It's really sort of neat to be able to watch the kids grow from fifth-graders, 10-years old, all the way through 18," he said. "And they graduate and then go to college or start their careers. I feel like I'm really lucky. Myself and the orchestra teacher (Sonja Weast) are probably the only two (teachers) that get to see the same kids go through school for eight years. It's really neat to know that I had a small part in their growing up and their development. And hopefully through music was able to enrich their lives a little bit and to help them be the people they are now."

Fox said having the opportunity to be able to play music every day on the job is something that he cherishes. Fox also said he tries to teach his students things outside of music, such as life lessons.

"I try to teach them responsibility," he said. "I think it's important for them to be responsible citizens. Whenever we're in band we're not just teaching band, we teach life a little bit. To seem them work together as team players I think is really important. To see them have intrinsic motivation and want to be good. To me, there is so many positive things that music brings into a kids life. I want them to keep learning. Ray James (my Band Director at Baker University) always said, 'Don't ever quit learning. The day you quit learning is the day they should close the casket on you.'"

Fox, who works with the "Pride of Tigerland" marching band, as well as the pep and concert bands, said his 11 years as band director have been filled with many great memories.

"Some of my fondest memories probably come outside of the classroom because of the many trips we have taken, the many hours that we spend outside of school together with band kids and former band kids." he said. "Last year, our band, orchestra and choir, for the first time probably in the history of Fort Scott, put a collaborative effort together and traveled to St. Louis and performed at the Gateway Arch.

"And to have the collaborative effort between three entities, between three programs was phenomenal. That's one of my favorite memories. Being able to see my kids graduate and go on to be productive citizens I think is another really cool thing."

Fort Scott Middle School Principal Danny Brown said Fox has done a phenomenal job with the music program.

"He's done a great job of preparing the kids and putting out good performances," Brown said.