Switching Sides – How an HTHS Music Teacher is Challenging the Line Between Art and Science.

Megan Henwood, Dec 16 2019

Probably one of the biggest dividing factors in today's high school social climate is the ‘art kids’ vs the ‘science kids.’ Finding itself between these two academic poles is music – praised by some to be an exquisite art form with no limits, and others to be a science, with a set of rules to follow. But, like anything else, does it really have to be one or the other?

32-year-old James Snelgrove works as a music teacher at Harrison Trimble High School. Music has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. He began piano lessons at age 3, and was also involved in church and school choirs throughout his childhood and time in university. James has a pretty extensive musical resume – however, there is one thing he does not share in common with other music teachers.

He has a biochemistry degree.

When he first enrolled at Mount Allison University, James had originally wanted to become a pharmacist. However, after taking a teaching internship with a music professor, he realized what his true calling was, and enrolled at St. Francis Xavier University for his Bachelor of Education.

“I really, really enjoy explaining things, and I’m good at coming at things from a lot of different angles,” he says. “I also enjoy helping people. It’s a lot of fun to help people work through their problems. I had a lot of teachers in both my school days and my university days that helped inspire me and made me realize ‘I want to do that!’”

When he graduated from StFX, music teachers were in great demand.

“When I got my teaching degree, that’s where all the jobs were,” he laughs. “They were really crying for music teachers, so I got a lot of experience doing that. In addition, once I had a little more experience doing that, I realized that in music you’re doing things a lot more.”

Throughout his 5-year teaching career at Harrison Trimble High School, James has taught a variety of courses such as Math 9, Science 10, Biology 122, and a large variety of music courses. This current semester, he teaches BBTech 9, Music 10, and Vocal Methods 11/12.

“In science and math, it’s a lot more like ‘Okay class, we need to hunker down and focus on this worksheet,’” he continues. “Teenagers generally aren’t as interested in that, as they are into actually doing something more hands-on, and that’s why I’ve transitioned into teaching mostly music.”

So how does he feel being a more technical, science-y guy teaching in a more artistic field? He really likes it. One thing he had learned as a teacher is teaching technical concepts to people who are more artistic. He uses his expertise to help his students in all their subject matter and even offers unofficial ‘Snelgrove Extra Help’ to music students also taking chemistry or more advanced mathematics courses who need that more artistic approach to the sciences.

“I’m able to put things in a way that help more artistic and creative people understand more technical concepts like science and math.” He says. “It also allows me to keep some good, close relationships with a lot of the science and math teachers, because they know I can make chemistry puns just as bad as they can make chemistry puns.”

Alongside teaching, James is also one of the directors of the HTHS Vocal Ensemble and Concert Band, participates in the Greater Moncton Chorale, and works as an Organist at the St John the Baptist Anglican Church in Riverview. Thanks to him, many students at Harrison Trimble have the opportunity to explore music outside of class.

“High school students are at the point where they’re starting to gather around more of their identity. In high school, people start diverging off into different areas. You have people that are involved with art, music, drama, people involved in math clubs, sports teams, et cetera. In high school, people don’t tend to do a little bit of a lot of things, rather they do a little bit of things a lot. I enjoy seeing people finding their lane, if you will.”