ROCKPORT, Maine — Before Jamie Oshima eats his cornflakes in the morning, he plays an instrument.
“I might pass by the piano. I can’t not play it,” said Oshima, 14, of Whitefield.
When he’s not attending eighth grade at the Ashwood Waldorf School in Rockport or doing his homework, he is playing music. He plays after his homework is done until bedtime around 10:30 p.m. On weekends, he plays at contradances with his family as part of the Henry Road Bandits.
“All my life there’s been music in my house,” he said. “I’ve been surrounded by instruments. People come in and out of my house playing music all the time.”
Oshima has pictures of himself as a 2-year-old boy holding a wooden, stringless violin. Nowadays, Oshima most frequently finds his fingers on the frets of his guitar, but he’s known to pick up the banjo, ukulele, electric bass, violin, Irish flute or a pair of drumsticks.
“My life is music,” he said.
This weekend Oshima will use his skills to raise money for his school’s eighth-grade trip to Colorado where he and his 11 classmates will white-water raft and do service projects.
The concerts will feature solos by Oshima with a lot of jazzy finger-picking guitar as well as collaborations among Oshima and his family members and classmates. His entire class plans to sing the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.”
The first concert is 7 p.m. Friday, March 30, at the Sheepscot General Store in North Whitefield. The second show will be 7 p.m. Saturday, March 31, at the John Street Methodist Church in Camden. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. There will be free pie.
I love to read a good happy story particularly when it involves our young people!
Encore!!
Can’t not play it? Don’t know what that means exactly….
means he can not play the piano.
Alex is right.
Meaning he can’t resist playing it if he walks by.
The first interview of many, I’m sure. Bravo indeed.
Delightfully awesome to a bright future for you!!!
Kusoa to this young man! And his parents and teachers.
I do however see a big difference in mindset. When my son, equally gifted and just as sure about his love of music and desire to play was attending public school in Belfast (quit some time ago) he was told to “take a reality check” by one of his teachers. Yet here is this young man in a progressive private school who seems to be encouraged by his school. Interesting. I wonder how many children gifted in the arts had their dreams smashed upon public education? BTW, my son never quit his music, he quit the system instead.
That’s an excellent question, I got one Art class in 12 years of school – wanted more, none available. That was a long time ago, I hope it’s different now.
My daughter went to public school for 12 years…..then went to UMaine….graduated at the top of her class…majoring in vocal music performance. Now she’s pursuing her dream in New York CityEvery year at least 10 students in our high school go on to study visual and performing arts. We offer a lot of opportunities for students to nurture their creativity. It depends on the school system and the support it gets from the community.