John H. Combs Interview, circa October 1990

John Combs talks about his early music education, his university training, and being offered a job as the band director at Hellgate High School in Missoula, Montana in the late 1970s. He discusses the importance of band music and its roots as a uniquely American form of music. He also describes his teaching philosophy, which is to teach students about music’s role in culture and as a reflection of culture, not just how to play music. Combs articulates his concerns about the lack of complexity in modern rock and roll music and how most Americans in the 1990s consider music to play a utilitarian role rather than a cultural role in their lives and society. He describes the differences between producers, choir directors, band directors, and conductors. Combs also discusses the importance of introducing children to technically interesting music, such as classical and jazz, early on so that they develop an ear for it, which makes it easier for them to learn how to play an instrument.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/missoulamusicians_oralhistory/1003/thumbnail.jp