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JM senior says he was saved by the sax

June 11, 2008 12:15 am

JONAS BEALS

Fredericksburg's James Monroe High School is the 29th school John Smoot has attended. At 18, he already has lived in 38 different states.

John and his two brothers careened around the country with their single mother as she searched for work and a place to sleep. Job to job, sofa to sofa, shelter to shelter. To put it bluntly, they were homeless.

"All you do is count the schools," John said. "It's not the easiest way to grow up."

John's family found stability in Fredericksburg, where they've lived for five years, and he considers himself lucky to have spent his entire high school career in one place. On Friday, he will receive his diploma. This fall, he'll attend Emory & Henry College on a full scholarship.

John knows his success has a lot to do with hard work, determination and support from everyone around him.

If you press him, he will admit something unexpected: He was saved by a saxophone. John was 13 when he first heard the instrument.

"I was walking down a hallway at school when I heard it," he said. "I fell in love with it. It was really the first instrument I'd heard. Ever since then, I've practiced sax at least six hours a week. To be honest, I'll play it before I pick up a textbook."

A love for the tenor saxophone morphed into a general infatuation with music. John considers himself proficient on 16 instruments, and he has solid vocal chops, as well. He has even tried his hand at conducting, something he enjoys a great deal.

"When you play music, you appreciate things more. You understand more. It makes things clear," John said. "You will find more passion in the quality of a voice than you will in a textbook."

For John, music is music--there are no genres or boundaries. He was a member of the marching band, the concert band and multiple jazz bands, including the St. George's Episcopal Church jazz band. He will jam with anyone, anytime.

"I just try to suck in as much music as I can," he said. "If it deals with music, I will do it. My goal is not to further myself in music, but to further music itself."

A typically lofty goal for John, but he's already proved his ability to exceed expectations.

"A lot of hard work goes into what he does," music teacher and mentor Heidi Ribel said. "He commits fully. I have no doubt he will be successful. Just to be where he is right now is a huge accomplishment."

If John knows anything, it's hard work. He credits his mother for that lesson. When he's not at school, he's working at Domino's, a job he loves. When he's not at work, he's studying, practicing, listening and teaching. Which leaves him about an hour a day to sleep.

Speaking to him, you'd never guess he had a schedule that would have most people crying for mercy.

"I'm just never negative about anything," he said. "I don't see a point to it."

John doesn't see a reason to slow his frantic pace, either. He is candid about his difficult history.

"My past makes me who I am today," John said.

As for the future, he can see himself becoming a music teacher, but he welcomes any opportunities life might send his way.

"You have to find something you want to experience and live it forever," he said.

To reach Jonas Beals: 540/368-5036
Email: jbeals@freelancestar.com