Teacher From Dix Hills Makes the Grade

Dix Hillian Laurence Ballereau, a music teacher and band director at Syosset High School, received one of the 2010 Music Educator of Note Awards from the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (LIMHoF) at its recent induction ceremony held Nov. 16 at the Oheka Castle in Huntington.

"I could not think of a more deserving candidate for this award and the Syosset School District is very excited to see him get this recognition," said Michael Salzman, the high school's Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts.

Jim Faith, Chairman of the the LIMHoF, added, "He has contributed so much to his students. There are teachers and there are those that go above and beyond, that put more in and give kids more and Larry is one of those people," Faith said.

Ballereau found out he was being considered for the honor three years ago, the first time he was nominated.

"I was nominated by a student in 2007, but I did not win. I got a call this year and the LIMHoF took a look at what information they had on me from last time, then they decided to give it to me," he said.

Ballereau grew up in Bethpage and currently resides in Dix Hills. His first musical education was at home.

"My dad was a drummer and my mother was a singer," he said. "I play piano, guitar and all the woodwinds. I have always like jazz, pop and I was trained in the classics so, of course, classical music. I started working at 13. I was writing jingles and recording and working in a studio."

After attending Hofstra University, he began working in Brooklyn before joining the Syosset School District.

"I was working as a teacher at the Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn first. I came to Syosset to fill in for someone who was on a leave of absence. They (Syosset) hired me as a music teacher for South Woods and Thompson before I came to work in the high school," Ballereau said.

Part of what Ballereau incorporates into his teaching program is a way to let everyone participate by appealing to a wider range of students.

"We try to give everyone an opportunity; We do not need to attract the standard kids who go into chorus or band," he said. "They are already in. We needed to attract the other kids, the ones who love music but didn't fit in to the traditional music classes, with non-traditional classes. Their input is important. Once you have them you can get them to do anything."

Some of the non-traditional classes Ballereau uses include Improvising Music, Recording for Musicians and Commercial Music.  These courses helped the school's music department earn national recognition in 2001 by way of a Kennedy Center Award.

"These kids learn about engineering, producing and a lot of the behind the scenes things that they can do and be a part of music that way," he said.

In addition to his teaching career, Ballereau continues to work as a professional musician.  He and his wife, Laura, have lived in Dix Hills for over 10 years with their son, Andrew, who appears to be following in his father's footsteps.

"He plays bass and clarinet. He just made the all-state concert band and he was just in the all-county band," Ballereau said.