Joy Pye ’20 brings music to life in Hawaii

Joy Pye '20 brings music to life in Hawaii

• Share On Facebook
• Tweet It

When Joy Pye '20 envisioned her senior recital at Salve Regina University, she imagined standing in Ochre Court, surrounded by friends and family, filling the historic space with music. Instead, the COVID-19 pandemic transformed her final months at Salve - and the start of her teaching career - into an unexpected journey of flexibility, perseverance and creativity.

Pye graduated with a bachelor's degree in music education amid a global shutdown, adapting her final recital into a virtual performance that foreshadowed the remote teaching realities she would soon face.

"It certainly presented its own challenges, but looking back, it actually prepared me for what education became in the years that followed," said Pye.

After graduation, Pye returned home to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where the teaching landscape was in flux. Veteran educators retired or left the profession due to the abrupt transition to online learning, creating opportunities for new teachers like Pye. And in an unexpected twist, Pye soon found herself taking a leap she had long dreamed of: moving to Hawaii.

"I had always told my professors, 'I want to retire in Hawaii and teach there someday.' I didn't expect it to happen right after graduation," she said.

Although the move came sooner than planned, Pye felt well prepared to meet the challenge, thanks to the foundation Salve had provided. "I clung to the teachings that I learned at Salve, and used the toolkit that my professors gave me," Pye shared.

Life as a music teacher in Hawaii

Now living and teaching on Oahu, Pye works as an elementary music teacher in Kailua, teaching pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Her days are filled with music classes, ukulele club, Hawaiian drumming, school chorus and even helping other faculty members with school-wide events.

"I see every class in the school, which has around 500 students," Pye explained. "A lot of my day is organizing lessons based on grade level and curriculum standards, but my favorite part is making connections with the students."

Pye's time at Salve prepared her to adapt and engage students in creative ways. One of her favorite projects uses silent films and sound effects to teach musical storytelling. In this lesson, students select from a variety of classroom instruments to create live soundtracks for silent video clips, often featuring familiar characters like Spider-Man or humorous meme-style footage. The activity not only helps students explore the relationship between sound and emotion but also encourages teamwork, creativity and a deeper understanding of musical concepts.

"The students create live sound scores using instruments to match what's happening on screen. They love it," Pye said. "It ties in music education, collaboration and a little pop culture."

Pye credits Salve's tight-knit community and hands-on education for shaping her teaching philosophy. As a student, she was mentored by multiple faculty members in music and education, including Peter Davis, senior lecturer in the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance and the department's music program coordinator, and former instructor and choral director Dr. Donald St. Jean.

"The professors made it so special. I don't think I've ever experienced anything like Salve anywhere else," reflected Pye. "From the beautiful campus to the music ensembles down to the dorm life, it was an untouchable experience."

Salve's mercy mission also left a lasting imprint on Pye's approach to teaching.

"In my education classes, we were encouraged to weave the values of mercy, harmony and justice into our teaching," she said. "I've carried that into my role as an educator here in Hawaii."

Looking to the future

Pye's passion for music and travel continues to shape her goals.

"I studied abroad in Austria and Australia while at Salve, and I've been inspired to keep traveling," she said. "My next goal is to teach internationally, possibly in Australia, and continue sharing music with students around the world."

For current and future Salve students, she offers simple but powerful advice.

"Come in with an open mind," she advised. "Your plans may change in the blink of an eye, but Salve is the perfect place to explore who you are and what you're passionate about. Stay true to yourself and be open to what life brings."

Today, in the warm ocean breezes of Honolulu, Pye finds herself living that philosophy daily. Whether it's guiding students through a chorus rehearsal or helping them pluck out their first song on the ukulele, she remains grounded by the lessons - and the spirit - of her Salve Regina experience.