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.
