THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 26, 1995 TAG: 9511230202
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
At an age when most toddlers are the ones being tickled, Terry W. Butler was tickling the ivories of a piano.
By the time he was 2, he was playing the piano.
Formal training began two years later, followed by years of church recitals and school performances.
But shortly after Butler entered Norfolk State University in 1988, he switched his loyalty from the piano to major in organ.
He did not, however, abandon his first love altogether. The 1994 NSU graduate minored in piano.
``In my opinion, the organ is the superior instrument,'' said Butler, who became a convert about six years ago. ``It has no limits. It can do any and everything.''
Butler, who works part time as the assistant organist at Grace Episcopal Church in Norfolk and full time as the choir director at I.C. Norcom High School, said the organ can be used in solo performances or as an accompaniment for choirs, instrumental quartets and instrumental ensembles.
Two years ago, Butler competed in the National Association of Negro Musicians organ competition in Oakland, Calif.
``I practiced day and night sometimes until 3 and 4 in the morning,'' he said.
``I won the local competition, then I won the regional competition - both of those were held here - then I went off to California to represent the East Coast, and I won second place in the nation.''
Butler attributes his musical success to God, to his parents Jack and Mahala Butler and to those ``special persons that helped me learn and acquire all the skills that put me in the position I am in today.''
Butler started working at I.C. Norcom High School in the fall of 1994, right out of college.
``In my area of music, it's very difficult to find a job as a choir director because there's only one per school,'' he said.
Though Butler was educated in Norfolk and still resides there, he can think of no other place he'd rather be teaching.
``The thing that makes me want to be here the most at Norcom is the rich tradition, the pride that they have here, and the students are just wonderful kids,'' he said.
Name: Terry W. Butler
Nickname: Butler
Number of years in Portsmouth: Two years at I.C. Norcom High School
Birthplace: Norfolk
Birthdate: 5-9-70
Occupation: Teacher (choir director and piano instructor at I.C. Norcom), disc jockey, church organist/choir director
What job other than your own would you like? To become a choir director and music instructor on the university level.
Marital Status: Single
Children: None
Fondest childhood memory: Spending cherished moments with my mother and father
First concert: Piano recital, age 8, First Calvary Baptist Church
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? A brand new house for my mother and/or a state-of-the-art music wing for the new I.C. Norcom High School
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? President Clinton because I would like to be in charge of so many important decisions affecting mankind and possibly add some new policies that would provide more funds for music programs across the country
Biggest accomplishment: Finishing my undergraduate studies at Norfolk State University and finishing in second place in the National Association of Negro Musicians organ competition in California.
Most embarrassing moment: Locking my keys in the car with it running my first day at NSU.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be a few inches taller; instead of 5 feet 8 inches, maybe 6 feet.
Perfect way to spend the day: With my family and the one I love and care for, on a beach shore far away, listening to great literature by composers like Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven.
I can't resist: The temptation of listening or playing some type of music in a day's time.
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: The Max
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: I.C. Norcom High School
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Lack of family and moral values
If you had two wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
A new I.C. Norcom High School
A professional basketball team ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
by CNB