Issue link: https://publications.tfs.ca/i/609675
Brian Cram: The Renaissance Man Physical Education and ESL Teacher, La p'tite école For a few individuals, lifelong learning takes hold when they are very young. Brian Cram is one of those people. AT THE AGE OF 14, this Toronto teenager told his mother he was quitting piano after four years of lessons. She agreed, but on one condition: he had to learn another instrument. Enter the self-taught guitar player and burgeoning rock star. Not only did he become part of a band, he also became the band's de facto manager, learning the ropes of promotion, marketing, merchandising and booking gigs by doing it himself. Those gigs took place in local mainstays like the El Mocambo, Horseshoe Tavern and The Silver Dollar Room. At the same time, from primary through high school, Mr. Cram was fortunate to have amazing physical education teachers and coaches. They not only pushed him, but also fostered a drive for excellence and success, from winning the city championship as captain of his high school volleyball team, to playing on one of Ontario's best varsity volleyball teams at Western University. After receiving his bachelor's degree in kinesiology, he returned to Toronto to pursue his bachelor's of education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Despite his love of music, becoming a teacher had always been part of his plan. Post OISE, he became a personal trainer with a client who turned out to be serendipitous to his teaching career – Michael Rehberg, a TFS Senior School teacher. Mr. Rehberg told him to contact TFS physical education teacher Steve Turner about a coaching position with the track and field teams. One year later he started teaching physical education at La p'tite école. That was four years ago. Today, he continues to teach physical education, has taught music and is teaching ESL at La p'tite école. He has also coached the girls' Junior Volleyball team over the last few years to great success, including one championship. But during his summers, he embarks on a very different activity: producing his own music. Over the course of 10 years, Mr. Cram taught himself audio engineering and set up a home recording studio. Now he writes and creates music for singer-songwriters and advertising agencies, as well as himself. "Being at school is very social," he says, "but making music is an introverted activity, a personal puzzle that can never be finished and one that can be transformed in so many different ways. I love this mix of music and teaching, and the learning is non-stop!" 31 TFS ENTRE NOUS 2015