Professor David Laganella
By Alexa Christina Smith (Whetstone Staff Writer)
Alexa Smith: Where are you from?
David Laganella: Originally? Philadelphia.
AS: Is that where you were raised?
DL: I was raised in Philadelphia and I was also raised in Haddonfield, N.J.
AS: Where did you go to college?
DL: I went to New York University and the University of Pennsylvania
AS: What was your major there?
DL: Music.
AS: Just music? Not music education?
DL: It was actually music theory.
AS: What made you go into teaching?
DL: I always knew I liked being at college so I figured I’d just spend the rest of my life there. I like to teach. It’s an important part of the musical process and I like being around young people. It keeps me youthful.
AS: What drew you to music originally?
DL: It’s been in my family for years so I’ve been playing instruments since I was 4 or 5 years old.
AS: So you said it was in your family. Do your parents both play instruments?
DL: They aren’t professional musicians, but they both play, yes.
AS: What do they play?
DL: They sang. Mostly classical. My mom liked some pop too, but not my dad.
AS: What instruments do you play?
DL: Guitar’s my main instrument. I can also play a little piano, but composing classical pieces as well.
AS: How do you compose for classical instruments? You said you play guitar and piano?
DL: You study the range and capabilities of the instruments as well as their playing and you can take classes in orchestrations.
AS: How long have you been teaching?
DL: My first teaching assignment was in 1999.
AS: How long have you been teaching at Wesley?
DL: This is my seventh year. I’ve been teaching here since 2007. Too long.
AS: What classes have you taught at Wesley?
DL: I’ve taught all of the music classes they offer. So, music theory, music history, music technology, rock ‘n roll.
AS: Did anything surprise you when you started teaching that you had to incorporate or change the way that you taught?
DL: Yeah, when I started teaching I was 24 years old so I was only a couple of years older than the students. So I needed to consciously differentiate myself from them even though we were involved in a lot of the same activities. So I had to grow up quickly.
AS: Did that influence – I know you said you had to differentiate – but did it influence how you actually taught?
DL: Yes, how I conducted myself, how I dressed, how I interacted with other people who were so close to my age.
AS: What is your favorite class to teach?
DL: I like teaching this one.
AS: Rock ‘n roll?
DL: Mmhmm. We get to talk about Chuck Berry. That’s pretty cool.
AS: What’s your favorite style of music?
DL: I like classical, I like rock ‘n roll, I like jazz.
AS: Do you have a favorite band?
DL: I have a lot of favorite bands.
AS: Can you name a few?
DL: I’d have to say my absolute favorite would be The Beatles.
AS: What do you do in your free time when you’re not teaching here at school?
DL: Well, I play in several bands. I help coach my son’s soccer league, I do a lot of running, and I like to hang out with friends.
AS: Would you say you have a specific passion in life?
DL: Sure, it’s music.
AS: Playing? Listening?
DL: All of it. I love it all.
