I taught at Hayfield for 29 years and worked with many wonderful people, but Jim was always a favorite.  My Reading Lab was across the hall from the music department and I loved those occasions when Jim would stop by my room to chat.  He was witty and wise and conversant in a myriad of topics and we enjoyed philosophizing together.  Jim was a  remarkable man, and his spirit of kindness and thoughtfulness and good-hearted fun will live on now in the minds and hearts of all those who were inspired by him.       

Dear Mary,

I hope you know you have a lot of love surrounding you.   Please let that be a small comfort to you in this time of grief.  The South County Family misses you and loves you dearly.

Jeff Payne

Mr Cooper gave me an appreciation of classical music. I am happy I was able to thank him in a restaurant in Woodbridge when I ran in to he and Ms Macadory many years ago.  The music world has several star conductors and performers who were Mr Cooper's students. I am certainly not of their caliber but I am a music teacher and so grateful to have known a kind, caring and intellingent music educator in Mr Cooper. He cared about all of his students. I remember my junior or senior year my oboe friend and I were asking to be excused from band class often because we had oh so many important things to do. Mr Cooper in his kind way wrote an interim report card to us with a grade of "A". He said in such a nice way we were good  players but needed to be in band class as an example to the younger students who were not at "our " level. He should probably have said we were prima donnas and needed to stop asking to be excused from band. I have never forgotten his words and have tried to pass that level of humilty on to my own students.  Rarely do my students have a band director like Mr Cooper these days. I cry inside when current students do not play the full version of "Pomp and Circumstance" at graduation like we did.  He conducted and taught us the greats: "Fingals Cave", "Pineapple Poll", " Pictures at an Exibition", "Incantation and Dance". Seldom do I see high school students play these harder pieces these days.  At least weekly I will tell my own students how wonderful Mr Cooper was. Thank you Mr Cooper. I will think of you the most when I am listening to classical music.  I appreciate and have played a large portion of the pieces in your band. 

Mr Cooper took my friend Jay Otto and I to Baltimore to find unique percussion instruments.  What a day we had talking about trains and sound and sneaking into a train yard.  That day really brought music to life for me.  Mr Cooper also always talked about not just "playing" music, but letting music come out of you.  Let it be something communicative, an expression and alive.  He had a great sense of humor and yet knew how to work hard.  He affected my music, my career and my family.  He was a great teacher.

OBITUARY

James Arthur Cooper

14 May, 1945 – 20 August, 2018

Demaine Funeral Home

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