Hollister
– Eleven-year-old Jessica Fernandez pressed down the
black-and-white keys of the piano while teacher Gloria Jones
watched over, observing her every note.
Hollister – Eleven-year-old Jessica Fernandez pressed down the black-and-white keys of the piano while teacher Gloria Jones watched over, observing her every note.
While Jessica played, Jones, 71, spoke about the children she had taught in Hollister over the years, at times wiping away tears.
“I’m trying to be tough today,” she said.
It was their last lesson together. And it was Jones’ last day to offer her ears and eyes, to mentor a population of students eager for musical growth.
Jones gave her final piano lessons Thursday after 25 years teaching in Hollister. As a teacher here, she helped hundreds of San Benito County children – and some adults – with everything from learning their first major chord to finding a new instructor when she had taught them all she could.
Beri Smith, whose two sons took lessons from Jones, said the community will sorely miss her.
“She was a great piano teacher, but her real strength lies in the relationship she forms with the kids,” Smith said. “Even if they’re having a bad day and they don’t want to play the piano, they still just want to go to their lesson to talk with her.”
Jones has been teaching the piano since age 15, when she charged just 50 cents for lessons.
“I’m going to really miss it, but I’ve had a good life,” Jones said. “I’ve had the best life because of all these people.”
Since announcing her retirement, Jones’ home has filled with flowers and cards from the many people who entered her home to learn piano over the years. One hand-drawn card lists “The Wonderful Things About Ms. Jones,” while another, colorfully decorated card uses letters from her name to spell out other words describing her.
“You feel like you’re part of the family,” Jones said.
She had 30 students when she walked away from teaching Thursday. She has taught people as young as age 4 and as old as 85. At one time she was teaching 87 students during the span of a week, with the lessons as her sole source of income.
“I would teach from 6:30 in the morning until 10 at night, but it was never a burden to me,” she said.
Jones’ cheery attitude rubs off on her students, who say they enjoyed talking to her and the rewards that came with perfecting a song.
“I’ll miss how she teaches and every time when we come in and greet her, she’s really nice,” said Johnray Fernandez, 12.
Johnray took lessons with his three siblings – Jayjoel, 14; Jessica, 11; and Justin, 8. Now that Jones has retired, the older Fernandezes will help teach the younger ones. They are just one of many families whose siblings all have taken turns under Jones.
A bulletin board in Jones’ music room holds pictures of many children and families she has taught over the years.
She proudly pointed out one student who went on to attend West Point and now is a helicopter pilot, and another who now works as a dentist in Hollister.
“I don’t want it to be over, but you just need to retire at some point,” Jones said. “But my doors are always open. If any of (my students) need help with anything or need a lesson, I’ll be here.”
