Chehalis Middle School Band Teacher Selected as Outstanding Music Educator by State Association

Chehalis Middle School Band teacher John Veltkamp was recently selected as Outstanding Music Educator by the Southwest Region of the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA). 

Veltkamp studied music in college, both vocal and instrumental, at Dordt University in Iowa and has since been teaching band and choir for 36 years in California and Washington. The past nine years of his career he’s spent teaching band in Chehalis.  

“I just appreciate teaching here everyday. I love this job and I love the people I work with here. Chehalis Middle School is so supportive of music and that doesn’t happen everywhere. It’s just an exceptional place to work,” Veltkamp said .

Veltkamp directs several different bands: the 7th and 8th grade concert band of about 55 students, an auditioned symphonic band of about 50 and a 30-member jazz band, as well as the 5th and 6th grade bands.

Veltkamp was a band kid himself and started out playing his father’s euphonium in fourth grade. 

When he was in high school, a substitute teacher and fellow musician, Jan Bouma, put him in charge of conducting a rehearsal of his high school band. 

“Afterwards she (Bouma) said ‘this is something you should do’ and that just really sparked my interest. Before that I was thinking I was going to be an auto mechanic,” said Veltkamp. 

The Chronicle asked Veltkamp how he feels about being selected by the WMEA as Outstanding Music Educator.

“It’s a nice pat on the back. I’m humbled because there are so many great directors out there that deserve the pat on the back that I got this time,” said Veltkamp. 

Veltkamp emphasised the importance of the support he receives from his wife of 38 years, Linda.

“She attends almost every concert that I conduct and offers detailed critiques. Behind every good man there is a better woman. Very true in my case,” said Valtkamp.

Veltkamp said that he’s a perfectionist by nature but he’s learned with age and experience that there is a point to which you can push a student to help them reach their potential and achieve a spectacular result but there’s also a point where you just have to let that perfectionism go.

“I’ve learned that through the years, the student has to come first, the relationship that you build with a student is the most important thing. Music comes second. If you’re not building a relationship with them and you can’t have fun with them music is not going to happen,” said Veltkamp. 

Veltkamp has taught everyone age from kindergarten to adults but Veltkamp said that he thinks he found his niche with middle school kids.

“They’re fun because they’re transparent. There’s never a boring day when you’re a band teacher at a middle school,” said Veltkamp with a laugh. 

Veltkamp shared a story about a former student, who’s in her 20s now, who came to visit him and told him that music helped her through difficult times. The former student came to beginners band night alone, wanted so badly to be in band but told Veltkamp that she was basically homeless and did not have money to rent an instrument. Veltkamp said he had an extra flute and gave it to her. 

“She played very well and worked hard on that borrowed flute. That was through elementary school, through middle school and into high school,” said Veltkamp. 

She moved away in high school but told Veltkamp that she went on to perform solo ensembles and all-state festivals.

“She said to me ‘music has done more for me than you will ever know.’ Music makes a difference,” said Veltkamp. “Music gives them something to work for and feel good about themselves. Kids in music stay out of trouble.”