The gymnasium at East Irondequoit’s Ivan Green Primary School was “rockin’” last Friday afternoon, May 20, and youngsters were excitedly swaying to the music and clapping in time to the music.
“Professor Jangle” was in the house, presenting a “Communities Rock” assembly including a message about places to play, learn, work and live, but also plenty of opportunities for audience participation and fun.
Mike Reich, who also happens to be a second-grade teacher at the school, said he came up with the alter ego, “Professor Jangle,” in the early to mid-1990s, and released a CD, “Yellow Rubber Ducky,” on iTunes in 2007. It has since sold in six countries and on three continents, he said.
Reich’s background had been playing classic rock concerts. He explains that he has been involved with music ever since he was a kid and picked up his first guitar.
“I never wanted to put it (the guitar) down,” he said.
Professor Jangle offers several concert themes, Reich said, “but Communities Rock is probably more geared to school performances; plus, it ties in with the second-grade curriculum.”
His name comes from the fact he’s a teacher, Reich said, and from the type of “clean, bright” rock music, called “jangle,” that was one of the first musical eras to which he gravitated.
“Plus, for every jingle, there ought to be a jangle,” he said with a grin.
His assembly last Friday wrapped up, much to the delight of students, with a song he called “Ivan Green Don’t You Know,” and on which he was accompanied by three colleagues.
Performing — he also plays at various venues over the summer, when school’s out — is not only his second job, Reich said, “but it’s also my passion ... just like teaching is. I kind of get to do all the things I love to do.”
