photo by John A. Secoges, Secoges Photographics
Many kids love learning about history, but keeping track of all those facts and dates can be daunting for young minds. Enter Damien Drago, fifth-grade teacher at Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, a history buff and musician extraordinaire who combines his passions for the past and for composing to strike educational gold. When he’s not writing lesson plans or fun, memorable songs, Drago – who works and lives in the Shillington area – relishes time with his wife, Audrey, and their five children: Emme, 11; Faith, 8; Lydia, 7; Eli, 4; and Mercy, 2, all of whom, like their dad, play music and enjoy learning about the people and events that shaped our country.
Q: Did you always love history and teaching?
Actually, as a kid I was a big baseball fan. I got into history as an adult, particularly works by narrative historian authors like David McCullough and Bruce Catton because they write amazing, accurate, personal stories. As for teaching, I taught fourth grade for a few years but have been teaching fifth for the last nine or 10.I teach all the subjects for the grade, but I especially enjoy Social Studies.
Q: How about music? Obviously you’ve played guitar for a while, but how did you get started?
I started playing guitar in late high school and began to play more and more in college. I’ve done all different kinds of music, from rock to cover bands, and I wrote some songs back then – not very many, and they were not very great [laughs] – but I’ve always enjoyed trying to put across thoughts in a creative way.
Q: So how did teaching history and music come together for you? And how did it turn into an album?
After I’d been teaching a few years, I brought the guitar into school and played silly songs for fun. I was teaching the unit on the American Revolution and wanted to help students feel what the colonists were feeling at that time. I kept coming back to the phrase “go powder your wig” as a way of telling the British off. I wrote that song pretty quickly and then others followed. They turned into the album of the same title, which was recorded at a studio in State College and released in 2012.
Q: Your music goes beyond your own classroom, however, in that you play live shows, correct?
Yes, I play live as a solo act and with a band, mostly at family and historical events. I was invited to play in Williamsburg this summer for the first time, and that was exciting and fun. The band I play with consists of friends who are willing to help me out – a drummer and a bass player – and we do select shows at libraries and schools.
Q: With five children of your own, you obviously know kids – does that help with writing songs?
I guess so, but I’ve been a teacher just about as long as I’ve been a parent, so the two go hand-in-hand for me. I spend my spare time with my wife and family, playing music at church and with my kids, most of whom play an instrument. Emme plays violin and fiddle; Faith plays piano; Eli is determined to be a drummer and Lydia is learning the ukulele. I dream of one day having a family band [laughs]. They all love traveling to see historical places too, so we try to take those kinds of trips when we can.
