CABAMA
Richard Jones' Full Testimonial

Scott, I just wanted to send you a note in order to thank you for the superb job you have done over the past couple of years at Bridges Academy, and specifically with regard to my son, Sam Jones. As you are aware, Sam is a deeply devoted musician who greatly needed direction and an environment in which he could better develop his considerable natural talents. Prior to your arrival at Bridges Academy, the music program was not terribly well organized and progress in musical learning was difficult to attain for not only my son, but also for the other young musicians at the school. Upon your arrival, you organized the school band, helped the musician students with direction, but allowed them the ability to select many of the songs and the types of music to be performed and practiced. You helped them become a true band, as opposed to several musically talented kids playing their instruments with one another. The "Coffee Houses" that you supervised and organized were excellent opportunities for the musicians to showcase their skills as well as practice performing in front of large numbers of people. Equally important to the performance and practice was your development of the music theory program at Bridges. This was critically important to the musical and intellectual development of the students. In the case of Sam, it was a class to which he looked forward almost as much as band practice itself. Music theory elevated the musical experience greatly wherein nearly all the students who participated ended up seriously continuing their musical studies at institutions of higher education- in the case of Sam, at the Thornton School of Music at USC, where he is a freshman majoring in Studio Jazz Guitar. I hope you continue with your efforts to educate young musicians and inspire them to develop their talents in such a way that you accomplished with my son. I wish you the best in your future pursuits.
Sincerely, RICHARD B. JONES