Mr. Matlock Profile

As you walk in the room, the atmosphere changes from the hustle of the halls to a silent and serene area. Lining the egg-shell white walls are the posters from the past musicals, awards from previous competitions, and pictures of former Chamber Singers.

Standing in front of the baby grand piano, behind the music stand is Johnny Matlock. He leads his students to aspire in finding their potential through the music they sing in his class.

“It seems I always wanted to be a music teacher,” Matlock said. “My parents and grandparents were very musical and encouraged me to be a teacher—but I would say it was my elementary music teacher Mrs. Tattum, who truly inspired me.”

Being a teacher can be a stressful though rewarding job. Students are often the inspiration driving educators to continue teaching the youth.

“What inspires me to continue teaching are my students—seeing their love of music, the joy that they get from it, the quality product they produce. I work for them; really it is not work at all.”

Teaching can have a different meaning than what others occupation’s may have. Matlock feels that teaching is not a job, it’s a calling.

“I speak this at a time when funding for public education has reached an all-time low, a general lack of respect for what I do dwindles, and I seriously ponder a question that would have been unthinkable to me 20 years ago, ‘Who would want to be a teacher?’,” Matlock said. “When I think of the word vocation, I think of the religious who take a vow to endure hardship, persecution, and even death for a cause greater than themselves. One decides on a certain job because research indicates that the prospects for employment are good, advancement is fast, or the salary is large. A vocation is something you must do. I am proud to say that I chose teaching as my vocation.”

The leadership guru, Stephen Covey, tells of a lesson he learned in college. He related learning to farming. His lesson: you can’t cram on a farm. Covey stated, “Learning that sticks, must be cultivated.”

“Teachers are cultivators,” Matlock said. “Slowly and deliberately I go about my rehearsal assessing each student, diagnosing the proper cultivation technique. Each voice is different and unique. Each voice is important to the collective sound. Some require pruning, water, weeding, re-planting, or fertilizer. Cultivation is slow work requiring much patience. Cultivation is sometimes painful or uncomfortable requiring genuine loving care.”

Matlock said he is a cultivator of people.

“Although I strive for an excellent product, I believe the journey most important,” Matlock said.  “Each choir member comes to rehearsal with different levels of ability and skill. All students, regardless of aptitude, can benefit from being part of a choir. A mentor teacher of mine espoused the notion that music shapes the complete human being.

“As a choir director, I teach from the belief that the literature I select (with meaningful texts that speak to our spirit),” Matlock added “The genuine care for each student’s well-being, the awareness of the connection between thought, physical energy, and human emotion, influences not only quality singing, but cultivates better human beings.”

Matlock said he wants his students to leave his classroom changed.

“My hope is that they will be better parents, friends, community members, leaders, volunteers, employees, and employers,” Matlock said. “The greatest reward for me is to see that each individual student has moved a step closer in discovering the potential in themselves:  You are important.”

15mbefort@usd489.com