Leonard Palmer wasn’t much younger than his current students when his teacher gave him a saxophone. She invested in a few music lessons for him — and now he plays nearly every instrument.
“I’ve been hooked ever since,” Palmer said.
He began teaching music at Northeast Elementary School in 2009 after being a substitute teacher, earning an education at North Carolina Central University.
The impact his teacher made on him years ago is what he wants to accomplish teaching his students.
“I’m not just teaching them how to sing, I’m teaching them about their attitude,” Palmer said. “I hope they get some of these life lessons I’m teaching them.”
Outside of the classroom, he conducts music classes for students free of charge through his nonprofit.
“Hopefully, some of these students will send me tickets to their concerts,” he said laughing as his students practiced chords on the keyboards last week.
Two students, Adonis Kittrell, 10 and Velvet Grant, 11, are starting early on their hopeful entertainment careers.
Grant, a singer and one of seven siblings, dreams of being a dancer. She likes taking Palmer’s music class because it’s a chance to express herself.
She knows she has to be educated to grab her dream, though.
“If you don’t get an education, you’ll never get to be what you want to become,” said Grant, who enjoys reading books and can slightly read music.
Kittrell, who also likes to sing, is learning percussion.
“It’s kind of like the bongos, but to me its better,” he said as he beat the drum. “It’s louder.”
He said he wants to be a famous musician, adding, “but if you don’t know how to add two plus two, you can’t go anywhere in life.”
Palmer, born in Delaware, graduated from Kinston High School in 2002. Before becoming a music teacher, the 29-year-old wanted to be a pediatrician.
“I guess I still am, maybe like a music-pediatrician,” he said smiling.
Palmer is moved by people’s reaction to music, noting it’s “worthwhile.” He said the class sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” calling up crying audience members to the stage after the performance.
“My favorite thing is seeing people’s lives change,” he said. “Seeing people happy by listening to music, that’s my biggest thrill.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
BREAKOUT BOX:
Meet Me Monday
Leonard Palmer and students
Name: Leonard Palmer, Music teacher
Education: Kinston High School, North Carolina Central University
Fun fact: The violin is a more challenging instrument for him to play because of the body positioning.
Name: Adonis Kittrell
Age: 10
Fun fact: He has two extra fingers
Name: Velvet Grant
Age: 11
Fun fact: When she goes home, she either goes to sleep or dances