Mickey Starling
reporter3@greenepublishing.com
Dr. Oadie Dobbs grew up on the rich soil of the family farm in Madison. Though he knew the basics of farming very well, his hands were destined for greater things. In the Dobbs family, learning the piano was a required subject for everyone. These lessons came easy for Oadie, who was born with the music eager to course through his fingertips.
By the sixth grade, Dobbs was already playing the piano far better than his older counterparts. He learned quickly that music was more than just the notes on the page. The style and flow of the music had limitless possibilities and Dobbs was eager to explore his capabilities to make music, not just play it. Opportunities to explore and develop his gift came early, as his church hired him as their organist when he was in the tenth grade. At that time, Madison First Baptist Church was paying $250 a month for this service, which was great for a young man in high school. Dobbs was also proficient on the French Horn, which he played in the high school marching band, under the tutelage of Band Director Gary Gazlay. Dobbs topped off his senior year by marching with the band in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, in New York, in 1980.
Dobbs remains thankful for the instructors and church leaders who played a large part in encouraging his musical development while growing up in Madison. He continued playing the organ at church while attending North Florida Junior College, where he earned his Associate of Arts degree in General Education Arts. Though music remained at the forefront of Dobbs' mind, he always felt a patriotic duty to serve in the military.
Dobbs enlisted in the US Navy in 1982, following in the footsteps of his late father, Marjell Dobbs, who was a World War II Veteran of the Navy. "I considered the military as a male right of passage," said Dobbs. "It was kind of a warped sense of responsibility on my part." Dobbs is as intelligent as he is gifted, which temporarily sidetracked him from his musical pursuits. He scored so high on the ASVAB test upon signing up in the Navy that he was persuaded to join the nuclear power training program.
As he was completing studies to become a nuclear-trained electrician, Dobbs realized he had bitten off something he would rather not chew. "Nuclear training required a six-year enlistment, rather than the four years I was hoping for," said Dobbs. "I wasn't even good with tools growing up. It's a good thing I didn't sink a ship." Still, he persevered through his military service, having to be content to let the music play on in his imagination. "Every time we took a leave, I would find an organ or piano and play my butt off," said Dobbs.
In fact, two years into his time with the Navy, Dobbs had the chance to enjoy the magic of music in a large organ hall. Listening briefly was all it took for him to come to a realization. "Okay, God, I know what I want to do," thought Dobbs. Though he finished his military service with the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering, Dobbs' heart was now finely tuned to continuing his studies in music.
With his six-year tenure complete, Dobbs returned home to Madison, where he soon enrolled at Valdosta State College, where he could remain close to his parents. Dobbs earned his bachelor's degree in organ performance. His talents then led him to a full-ride scholarship at the College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cinncinnati, where he earned his master's degree. Determined to take his talents to the limit, Dobbs was then accepted at Arizona State University, where he gained a Doctorate of Musical Arts (DMA) degree. "During my second year there, I finally took a deep breath and slowed down," said Dobbs. "I was pushing myself too hard to make up for my years in the military. It took seven years to get my doctorate."
In 2001, Dobbs' first job out of college was playing the organ for Woodside Church, in Flint, Mich. He was refueling his U-Haul on his maiden trip to Flint when he heard news of the 9/11 terrorists attack in New York City. His apartment, at the time, overlooked Interstate 75. "This is great," Dobbs thought. "It's only a 17 hour and 42 minute trip back to see my mama." Dobbs was certain that his stay in Flint would be a short one, but 19 years later, Flint is still home. Dobbs began teaching on a part-time basis for the Flint Institute of Music in the Fall of 2002 and his responsibilities continued to grow until he is now the piano chair for the school. "I try to give 110 percent to my job and my life and it's appreciated most of the time," said Dobbs.
His long tenure in Flint has made him a familiar face in the community. Dobbs plays at various venues and churches when needed. "Teaching and doing what I love has been a blast," said Dobbs. "I approach teaching differently. I am definitely not old school, where the teacher expects you to learn to play like them. I teach the language of the music, which is much like an alphabet. Once you have mastered that, you can go anywhere with it."
Dobbs' teaching style must be working, since he has the most students in his class most of the time. "I don't want my students to play like me, I want them to be themselves and express who they are through their music," said Dobbs. At social gatherings, Dobbs never runs to the limelight if a piano is nearby but he is often called upon to delight the guests with his talents. "It's God's gift to me, so I give them what I got," said Dobbs.
Dobbs is truly thankful; for the life he's been given and the early influences of life in Madison County. His mother, Nell Dobbs, was certainly instrumental in pushing his musical interests and his father's love for telling a good story lives on in Dobbs. "My stories are no match for my dad's, but I do enjoy sharing some of my stories," said Dobbs. "I'm really just a poor farm boy with a musical degree."
Dobbs' best stories are not the ones he tells. It's the magnificent wonders that find expression on a keyboard that tell the real story and pay tribute to the years of sacrifice and study that honed his talents for the world to enjoy. Though he initially took a few detours on his journey, Dobbs is now marching to the melody in his heart and he's hitting all the right notes.