Sadly, last month Jim Haynes passed away at the age of 87.
Jim was not a famous musician or bandleader. He did not compose anything or even play an instrument. He was not uber-famous or someone you likely have ever heard of. But, Jim Haynes led an eventful and interesting life.
Jim created Edinburgh's first paperback book shop and founded the London Arts Performance Lab in London (where he hung out with the likes of John Lennon & David Bowie). He then became a university lecturer in sexual politics at the University of Paris, a place he would call home until his passing. Jim was a free spirit who was beloved by many. To that end, his obituary in the London Daily Herald called him "the unofficial agent for the beat generation in Scotland."
Jim created Edinburgh's first paperback book shop and founded the London Arts Performance Lab (where he hung out with the likes of John Lennon & David Bowie). He then became a university lecturer in sexual politics at the University of Paris, a place he would call home until his passing. Jim was a free spirit who was beloved by many. To that end, his obituary in the London Daily Herald called him "the unofficial agent for the beat generation in Scotland."
Yes, as a professional, he was successful and significant. But he is remembered for something entirely different.
For forty years, every Sunday evening, Jim Haynes operated an open-door, open-house dinner at his Paris home. Absolutely anyone was welcome to attend, and all you had to do was phone or email, and he would add your name to the list. No questions asked. Just put a donation in an envelope when you arrive.
His dinners were as electric as they were eclectic, as people from all over would mingle about, holding paper plates of food in their hands, talking with strangers about the events of the day. Heavy with generosity and light in spirit, his parties would begin at 7 pm sharp and end no later than 11 pm.
Jim's influence was not limited to his dinners in Paris. He published four books with lists of people willing to host similar dinner parties in Romania, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and the Baltics. His goal was to introduce everyone in the world. No agenda. No titles. No backstory or baggage. Just an introduction. He believed good things would follow.
Jim was indeed a pioneer in social networking. He opened his home to strangers long before AirBnB, delivered food to strangers thirty-five years before Grubhub, and had people connecting and interacting in ways that Facebook and Twitter never could. Jim was an endearing and beloved character who led an eventful and consequential life.
I wish I would have met him and attended one of his Sunday dinners.
If you were to ask, I would tell you that I miss teaching. For me, the elements I miss most are not the bell-to-bell instruction of making music. I miss the passing periods, after-school chats, and walking down the crowded hallways of the music complex, filled with students and friends, happily going about their day. I miss knowing that, like clockwork, my life would be filled with youthful energy and enthusiasm, and with similar precision, it would end just as it began. I miss seeing the same kids along with new ones. I miss being in on, part of, and the butt of a good joke.
And I miss the introductions.
I miss introducing seniors to freshmen. Introverts to extroverts. All-staters to beginners. I miss introducing students to music from far away places they have never heard. I miss starting life-long friendships through this incredible activity. Most of all, I miss introducing my student to their next best self as they get a glimpse of what they have yet to discover and the person they will soon be.
Yes, I miss the introductions.
In some ways, your music room is like Jim Haynes's living room. It's the epicenter of a social experiment that brings people together on schedule for prescribed periods. It has a distinct purpose but no plan. It allows students (and teachers) to find a place and space with people they are comfortable with and share similar (or not) values, thoughts, and ideas. It is an introduction to friends, music, and themselves.
And if you listen to Jim Hayes, an introduction is all that is needed. Good things will happen from there.
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Scott.
Have a great week.