Three
friends and teachers at Wilson High School started their own extracurricular
activity last year when they decided to form NTH The Jazz Rock Trio.
While Kenzo
Hamilton, Michael Napolillo and Paul Toth teach English, chemistry and biology
respectively, they moonlight as musicians by night. NTH, named after the nth
degree — a scientific term that happens to match up with each musician’s
initials, performs monthly at Finbars Italian Kitchen in Seal Beach. They’ll be
playing from 7 to 10 p.m. this Saturday.
It started with a
conversation about Toth’s hobby of making his own instruments and led to weekly
practices. In addition to performances at Finbars, the boys have played at
private functions and at a fundraiser for Wilson’s soccer program.
Hamilton, 54, is a
Wilson alumni who has taught biology and marine biology at the school for 14
years. He plays the harmonica and sings for the band and said NTH plays cover
songs from Cole Porter to Coldplay as well as original scores. All the songs
have a “jazz touch” with vocal harmonies.
Napolillo, 59,
said teachers are natural performers, which may be why NTH is gaining a local
following. He has more than 27 years teaching at Wilson and plays the guitar
and ukulele.
“Teachers in
general are hams and love being center stage and performing,” he said. “None of
us can afford psychotherapy so this is our outlet. I get the biggest high out
of playing an original song that people really like.”
All three members
of the band said they bring their music to the classroom in one way or another,
each enjoys playing tunes from the radio in the background while the students
are busy.
Napolillo said
he’s shared some of the band’s original lyrics with his students when talking
about poetry. Hamilton said that as a biologist he compares music to the way
whales sing to each other, adding that music is a powerful evolution of the brain.
Toth, 55, has
taught chemistry at Wilson for 11 years and plays the mandolin and bass guitar
in addition to crafting handmade instruments at home as a hobby and side
business. He is a Millikan High School graduate.
He said there are many teachers at Wilson who are good musicians even
though they don’t work in that department, explaining that many of the teachers
once played as children but didn’t seek a career in the field. He said music is
often incorporated into lessons as a tool for learning.
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