Introducing Dr Hannabiell Sanders BY L AURA DAVISON
Laura Davison: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your earliest musical memories? Hannabiell Sanders: I’m originally from Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey. Like most, my earliest musical memories revolve around school. When I was 9 years old the high school came to our school to perform and showcase the different instruments. After the performance everyone went back to the band room and picked instruments. I remember telling my mom ‘I wanna play the long slidey thing!’. LD: Did you continue playing in bands at university? HS: I received a music scholarship from Norfolk State University (NSU) to study music education and to be a member of the Spartan Legion Marching Band. Studying at a Historically Black College (HBCU) was an amazing experience and taught me a lot about camaraderie. The marching band performed halftime shows during football games and would also compete with the opposing team’s band across the field. A big highlight for me was when the individual sections battled across the football field. Our trombone section consisted of 23 trombones, and we had the best fanfares. After a few years at NSU I transferred to Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University back home in New Jersey where I majored in music education and minored in music performance. LD: Was it always a dream of yours to be involved in bands like these? HS: In high school, my goal was to march with the Cadets of Bergen County (New Jersey), one of the top drum and bugle corps in the USA at the time. You go
20
to camps, learn, and plot a show then tour around the country during the summer when school is out. I became a Cadet after auditioning with three of my band mates from NSU. LD: What did you do after graduation? HS: My first job was a music teacher. It was a very insightful experience that changed the trajectory of my career. In the beginning I struggled to connect with my students because all I could do was regurgitate western classical music and history, but I made major breakthroughs after researching and creating lessons that combined African American history and diverse music styles. Throughout that process I discovered the reality of my lopsided education and as an active member of the People’s Organisation for Progress, I became more aware about racism, economic inequality, and the lack of representation of our history in education. I had a successful year teaching and developed a great relationship with the students, however, I felt like I needed to go and learn about different cultures and music to be a better music educator and musician. I moved to Durban, South Africa to study at the University of Kwazulu Natal (UKZN), learned about teaching for praxis and the power and potential musicians, artists, and teachers have to make positive impacts on people’s lives. I learned about some of the different music and instruments in that region, took up the mbira Nyunga Nyunga, taught at UKZN and a nearby school, created my own band and joined a ska punk band. After a year in Durban, I moved back to New Jersey for ten months and then moved to Newcastle
