George Gardner began playing in MoBand—a community orchestra in Modesto, California, that performs free concerts every Thursday in the summer—in high school. He is the band’s longtime director and spent decades teaching instrumental music in Modesto city schools. Before participating in a panel on balancing access and excellence in the arts, he talked about why he won’t wear a trumpet-shaped tie and why he runs from karaoke in the Zócalo green room.
What surprises you most about your life right now?
That I’m retired, and I spent 41 years in education—and all of it’s been fun, really, for the most part. And I think I’m really in a good position, still being with MoBand and conducting it for the summer.
What’s the best thing about being retired?
Not having the stress. When I went to work as a teacher, I didn’t necessarily feel stress every day, but every once in a while there’d be something that’d come up that you’d have to deal with—budgets or inventory or kids, how you keep them motivated, and that kind of thing. You just do it because it’s part of your job, and then one day you’re retired, and that’s kind of gone. It’s kind of a nice feeling.
What’s the ugliest tie you own?
Ties with instruments on them. I sense many of them might have been gifts. I’m a trumpet player originally, and so I have a tie that’s shaped like a trumpet. I would never wear that in public. A lot of music teachers do that; my wife will wear a music skirt with piano and keys on it. I could never get into that.
What profession would you like to practice in your next life?
I don’t know. I really haven’t thought about anything else except teaching music. It’s not one of those “I wish I would have” things or anything like that.
What salad dressing best describes you?
Probably honey mustard: kind of sweet but a little on the sassy side.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
I don’t do karaoke. I’m a music teacher. In fact, I run from karaoke. You know, karaoke’s really kind of neat because it gets people to sing in public and do things in public. And as soon as they do it, you realize, they probably shouldn’t. I’ve never been a karaoke fan. Of course I can’t sing, either.
What’s hanging on your living room walls?
Southwest Indian art. We have quite a bit of it. And, we have a large collection of Robert Shields’ art. He used to be a street mime in San Francisco in the 1960s, where he would entertain—he dressed up kind of in a band uniform down in Union Square, and he would mime. And then, he and his wife, who was also a mime, had their own show on national TV, Shields and Yarnell, a national variety hour. After that phase of his life was done, he stared creating art, just these magnificent works of art. We visited his studio. We’ve probably got 20 pieces of his art.
Where would we find you at 8:00 on a typical Thursday night—when MoBand’s not in session?
Probably sitting at home in the recliner, reading a book, having a glass of wine.
What’s your favorite pizza topping?
I like combination pizzas: salami and sausage, pepperoni, cheese, mushrooms.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Having some time to myself.