History

Every once in a while, an extraordinary teacher touches the lives of her students in a way that forever blesses them, the school that they are at, and the community they live in.

Lida O Beasley (affectionately known as LOB, from her signature on all student passes and papers) taught band and orchestra at John Adams Junior High School, orchestra at Samohi while simultaneously serving as assistant band director, and founded the SMC orchestra and restored the SMC concert band. She taught in Santa Monica during the 1970's, 80's and 90's.

"We are all dwarves mounted upon the shoulders of giants." (attr. Bernard of Chartres - 12th cent.) Lida was one of the giants who created a tectonic shift in music education in Santa Monica. No-one in Southern California had ever heard junior high kids play with such emotion and musical expression before. She radiated beautiful music, and lit the fire in her students so that they also projected that beauty in their performances. She taught her students to love each other and to work together like a family. As parents began to understand the positive impact of her work in their students lives, they mobilized to support and preserve that work through support of music education.

Mrs. Beasley was fiercely protective of her students, and ferociously fought against any administrator, teacher or other adult who might hurt them. Her work, along with her colleagues and loyal parents, saved music education in Santa Monica from multiple attempts to cut or eliminate these world class student programs. Her quality instruction and motivation set the standards that today's students and teachers work to live up to.

It is safe to say that our music programs in Santa Monica would probably resemble the many schools in our area who have suffered from the elimination or drastic reduction of music education that deprives their students of quality music education - had it not been for the work of Lida and those who rallied around and with her to protect her students. When you cut or eliminate music, you inadvertantly negatively impact all academics, and take the life and spirit out of a school. And that negatively impacts the entire community.

For students and friends of Lida Beasley - Andrea Rappaport (Samohi Alum, 1984 - horn player in the band and orchestra) created a fan page on Facebook for those who are not already friends with her. Many messages from her students were passed on to her in the week before she departed.

Many students, parents and friends are saying thank you and recognizing the extraordinary gift that LOB gave to Santa Monica. It is a good thing to say thank you to the teacher(s) in your life who made a difference - and especially the ones who awoke in you the gift of music.