Meet Riverdale's new music and art teachers

Nate Orton, Riverdale High School's new art teacher

Misha Kuznetsov, Riverdale Grade School's new music teacher

RIVERDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT – Riverdale's passion for the arts is evident. Just walk through the doors to our schools and you'll see art on the walls and hear music in the air. The arts truly come alive during the annual District Arts Night (slated for April 24 – mark your calendar).

This year, our district welcomed a new high school art teacher, Nate Orton, and a grade school music teacher, Misha Kuznetsov.

During Nate Orton’s interview process for his high school position, Principal Robinson visited him at the Multnomah Arts Center, where he taught for seven years. While waiting outside his classroom she recalls, “A teenaged student walked out of the class and went directly to their parent saying ‘best art class ever!’ with the biggest smile. I called that a good reference.”

Misha Kuznetsov comes to us from Russia by way of New York, where he led elementary and high school music programs. Principal Tobin says "Mr. Misha," as the kids call him, has a tremendous talent on the trumpet and wowed the interview committee with his ability to take the simple instrument of a recorder and make beautiful music.

Let's get to know their approaches to teaching.

What’s impressed you most about Riverdale students?

Mr. Orton: During my interview for the teaching position, I was excited to meet a few students who asked me challenging questions. They were sure of themselves, sharp and outgoing. I immediately realized this was a student body I wanted to work with.

Mr. Kuznetsov: They really care and look out for each other. It's great to see a tightknit community of children who are willing to go out of their way in order to make other students comfortable, happy and safe.

What do you say to students claiming to have no artistic or musical abilities?

Mr. Orton: The short answer would be to say, "I don't believe you," but I guess it is more what I do rather than say. I work alongside the student to help with visual fundamentals while talking about their ideas for the project. Often, if a kiddo is excited about the idea, they’ll find a way to tap into their artistic skills and develop them. Sometimes I say, "Let's start at the ground level," meaning let's take a few steps back and examine what you are having trouble with.

Mr. Kuznetsov: I tell them I believe every student has musical abilities that might not yet be developed or discovered, and the best musicians are often not the most talented, but rather those who are the hardest workers. Learning to play music can be compared to a sport. By practicing, you can get better at soccer or basketball, and the same goes for playing an instrument. By breaking down a complicated goal, task or piece into simple steps, I can make them attainable for my students. Once they master a simple piece, they’ll feel more confident in their musical abilities.

How do you get kids excited about the arts?

Mr. Orton: First and foremost, if I'm lukewarm about the project the students will be as well. I show genuine interest in the students’ ideas and technical abilities and continue to have a dialogue with each student about their progress. If a student wants to take their project in a different direction while still adhering to the guidelines, then I'm typically in favor. When students ask how they can receive an A on a project I say, "Make me something you are truly stoked about!"

Mr. Kuznetsov: I try to pick real world music that every musician, including my students, should know about and would enjoy playing or singing. For example, the advanced band has played Gabriel Faure's "Pavane" and Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man." The 6th graders are working on the Largo and Finale from Antonin Dvorak's "New World Symphony," and the K–4th graders are singing the Beatles' "Octopus' Garden” and “Here Comes the Sun," which they all love. They’re excited and passionate about learning and love to tackle and solve tasks that professional musicians might come across when playing such repertoire.

What classes are you most looking forward to teaching?

Mr. Orton: My background is in printmaking, so I'm excited to dork-out with specific techniques such as lithography and screenprinting in the second trimester Drawing and Printmaking class. I'm also excited to get the ceramic kiln running in the future. But, really, I’m most excited to help students make their interesting ideas come to life in all the art classes.

Mr. Kuznetsov: I'm looking forward to teaching the recorder, but am just as happy about teaching band, singing and playing xylophones. If I get there this year, teaching students to use GarageBand would definitely be a highlight.