Hi-Line Living: Take a note from Johnke

David Johnke has been the band teacher at Havre High School since the fall semester of 2005 and has developed the program to the successful and entertaining scene it is today.

Johnke was recently named 2015 Havre Public Schools Teacher of the Year for his work with his students and the program.

He has proved himself a valuable asset to the school district. However, Johnke did always plan to because a teacher.

"Actually, originally, I was not intending on becoming a teacher at all," Johnke said.

Both of his parents were teachers at some point in their lives and the most interest Johnke had in becoming one was with his work as a teacher's aid in college. He took as long as he could choosing a major and, ultimately, decided on a major in performance on trumpet when his college made him choose a direction his third year. He had dabbled in the music program, taking trumpet lessons throughout his college career, but was still trying to find out what he would like to do.

"The turning point came when I really needed money," Johnke said. "I found out that there was a seventh-grader that needed trumpet lessons."

He said he called the student's parents and they asked him how much he wanted, which he did not have an answer for. His first practice with the student ended with Johnke feeling like he had not done a good job.

"The student came and he asked a lot of questions," Johnke said, "questions I knew the answer to, but I was not able to associate them well with the student."

He said that between every practice, he tried to practice ways to tell the student what he needed to know to about music theory. He was determined to do a better job as a teacher and through this, he became a better one. He learned how to convey the elements of the craft to others.

He didn't think teaching was for him, but after the lessons, he found he really enjoyed the work and eventually decided to pursue a bachelor's degree in music education.

"I love it," he said. "I love problem solving. I love trying to find solutions."

Oftentimes, due to the number and types of musicians in the bands, he has to rework pieces so that the Havre High School bands can play them.  

"It's really great for the kids because we get to play a high quality repertoire," he said. "I love seeing the results of the students - to want to show up and do a better job each time."

There are currently 70 students enrolled in the band program who have the choice of participating in a myriad of bands: two jazz bands, three concert bands, two percussion ensembles, a pep band and marching band.

"It's so busy, it's really hard to have time for a personal life," Johnke said, adding that that has become easier over the years.

As for future goals for the program, Johnke said his main goal is to get the program to a point where it can be maintained for the long haul, or be built upon after he is no longer around.

Many community members and Havre Public School administrators have lauded Johnke for his work in the program.

"It's great to hear that from people," he said, adding that the program would not be where it is today if he had not had such an amazing predecessor, Ron Coons.

Johnke said that when he applied for the position after teaching in Judith Gap from 2001 to 2005, he was nervous about the good leadership whose shoes he would be trying to fill.

"I didn't want to follow a guy who was so well known around the state," he said. "It turned out to be the right fit at the right time."

The biggest goal of Johnke's program, however, is that the students become as good musicians as they can be.

"As far as the real meat of the program, it's to teach music literacy," Johnke said. "Everything they need to become better musicians."

Johnke shows no signs of slowing and the program continues to be a gem of the Hi-Line as he creates the beat of his own drum.