Cerritos College
Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

Cerritos College • Norwalk, Calif.

Talon Marks

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Kennedy shows passion for music

Kennedy+shows+passion+for+music
Orlando Dominguez/TM

Starting at an early age, Rusty Kennedy’s life has been around music. He’s gained an appreciation for music that tunes far beyond the basic C chord and tunes into the soul. 

An experienced musician, Kennedy is eager to learn everything about music, and shows no signs of slowing down his passion for music.

Kennedy, a music major, has been attending Cerritos College since fall 2005 and has been involved in the Cerritos music department ever since. 

Currently, Kennedy serves as President for the music club on campus.
Ultimately, Kennedy came to Cerritos playing the tuba, but after careful consideration he is now focused on the electric bass guitar.

“I was gigging so much outside of school on electric base that I couldn’t jam as much on tuba, so then I switched in spring ‘08 and applied here as electric bass,” Kennedy said.

Because most UC’s and CSU’s do not have a major for electric bass, Kennedy is now taking interest in the classically oriented upright bass.

“I’ve been humbled by the upright guitar,” said Kennedy, “but I’m still learning the basics and until I feel comfortable to play, I will willingly play in front of people.”  Occasionally, Kennedy still plays tuba.

In Nov. of ‘09 Kennedy played tuba in the “State Honor Band” in San Francisco, which was funded by the Board of Trustees.  Last spring, Kennedy was also involved in the jazz ensemble at Cerritos.

Not all of Kennedy’s music abilities expressed at school.  He spends numerous hours practicing at his rehearsal studio in Fullerton where he is getting ready with his band, “Heart of Cygnus,” to play at a festival in Germany.

“Cryptic Gallblatter Splatter” a progressive rock band is another band Kennedy is apart of.
Many faculty members at Cerritos College have positively impacted Kennedy’s musical growth in different ways.  With Music Instructor David Nelson’s “old school 70’s rock and roll roots,” his style of teaching has helped Kennedy train his ears.

“Dr. Nelson finds a way to integrate rock-and-roll to classical music,” expressed Kennedy, “analyzing music such as ‘Queen’ helped me realize how much thought processes there are in playing music.”

According to Kennedy, playing music is much like a sport.  Just like playing football or baseball, being a musician takes persistence and effort to perfecting the art.

Professor Betancourt, music teacher at Cerritos, has also helped Kennedy. 

Kennedy states, “Betancourt has a great teaching method that helps you teach yourself.”
Aside from college professors, Kennedy keeps a close connection with his high school band teacher Victor Solotoff. 

Kennedy regularly receives one-on-one lessons from his former high school teacher and benefits from his life wisdom.

Inspired by previous music teachers, Kennedy is taking his musical ear and applying it to the younger generation, by teaching five days a week at four local Whittier elementary schools.
Lessons in drum line and music fundamentals are given to kindergarten through third grade, and band to fourth and fifth grade students.

“I like dealing with kids because they are like sponges.  I correct them on the small yet crucial details that go into playing an instrument,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy is spending one hour a week on each elementary class and is currently struggling to get more hours to work with the students. 

“One hour is not enough to be teaching these children how to play music.  If it was up to me, I would spend as much as three hours a class to teach these kids.”

Kennedy’s future shines with music.

Not only does he want to succeed in the bands he is currently in, but also his career aspiration is to be a music teacher.

Next fall, Kennedy will be applying for primarily conservatory schools.

“You can sit and think about life or you can go out and do it, I’m learning, tomorrow I’ll be learning,”

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Kennedy shows passion for music