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Ryan Tobin ’03 (Pennsburg, Pa.) is teaching music lessons, running band rehearsals, repairing instruments, and preparing new music. He’s even serving bus duty while performing the everyday tasks of a middle school band director.
Tobin, a double major in music and computer science, is interning this semester at Shawnee Middle School in Easton under the supervision of Ron Degrandis, director of instrumental music at Shawnee.
“I help Mr. Degrandis with everything he does,” Tobin says. “The best part of this internship is working with the kids — they love music. And, being part of a fun and exciting learning environment is an excellent experience.”
Tobin signed up for the internship after taking a Lafayette education course over the January interim session, which included field experience. He observed Degrandis and other teachers at Shawnee and wanted to gain an in-depth understanding of how music is taught.
“The most important part is the experience I get from helping teach music lessons. Mr. Degrandis does an excellent job, and I learn a great deal from observing how he teaches,” Tobin notes.
He says the music courses he’s taken at Lafayette have provided him with a strong background, and the knowledge and practice he’s gained are serving him well at the internship.
“Lafayette provides great academic opportunities for its students,” Tobin adds. “The general curriculum provides the knowledge you need to succeed. Programs like internships, theses, special topics, workshops, and independent studies allow students to begin to explore their own interests in their field. In this way, Lafayette keeps its small-college feel while providing plenty of opportunities for interested students to pursue challenging and interesting work.”
A graduate of Perkiomen School, Tobin is a peer tutor for Music 101 and lab manager for the music department. He takes euphonium lessons at Lafayette and founded and conducted its brass ensemble last semester. He plans on doing a senior honors thesis in music next year.
Ryan Tobin ’03, a double major in computer science and music, created a computer database of the music department’s music library in an EXCEL Scholars research project with J. Larry Stockton, professor and head of music.