Courtney Rein
The Beat Within Teacher inside San Quentin
Interviewed by: Rodney, inside SQ staff member about music inside San Quentin
Rodney: What is your name?
Courtney: Courtney Rein.
R: What do you do here at San Quentin?
C: I’m the sponsor at The Beat Within.
R: What instrument do you play?
C: The Violin.
R: How long have you been playing the violin?
C: Since I was five. I am now 46. That’s 41 years.
R: When did you realize you can play good?
C: I don’t know if I can play good, but I love playing with other people.
R: When was the first time you played with other people?
C: I played with a string quartet.
R: Do you feel more comfortable on stage playing with other people?
C: Yes, you took the words right out of my mouth.
R: What made you want to collaborate with an incarcerated person here at San Quentin?
C: I’m looking for ways to collaborate where there is not such a big power dynamic difference, music levels are the playing field for me.
R: I saw you collaborate with White Eagle, one of the residents at an open mic in our Chapel for Mount Tamalpais College a few years ago. Was that experience better, or did you shine more here at Cell Sessions?
C: One thing about the different music collaborations with White Eagle, Henok and with Tam is that each one offers new learning and new ways of making music, so fun and humbling. It was part of Tam’s original music and it was so cool to be part of an event that will be shared with the public so they will see how music can bring all walks of life together and show each other love.
R: What is it like watching other staff collaborating with incarcerated people?
C: Watching it was very moving, to see the change happen right in front of me and being a part of it was encouraging. Seeing staff, volunteers, the Rabbi, the Community Resource Manager and the correctional officer rap with an incarcerated person. It was great, making history by building bridges and changing the culture within the prison system.
R: What would you tell other musicians?
C: Get in on this magic!
R: Thank you very much, this was a great interview!
