Buffalo teachers use math to create music

By day, Gregory Opalinski and Paul Swisher teach math and science.

But at night, the duo combines music and mathematics with their group: The Dooleys.

Opalinski and Swisher, friends since fifth grade, couldn’t find the music. Music found them.

“I had spiritual knowledge within me,” Opalinski said.

Opalinski majored in music and math, two subjects he believes are closely related.

“Everything is inextricably linked,” Opalinski said.

The idea that everything in the universe – especially mathematics and music – is interconnected has been the driving force behind Opalinski’s colorful artistic career, including his writing and poetry activities.

“Once we manifest a thought into the universe, whether intentionally or unintentionally, it has the potential to spread or deteriorate,” Opalinski said. “It’s spirituality, mathematics and music, at its most rudimentary.”

Simply put, nothing in the universe is isolated and everything is chaotically organized according to a defined code. Exploiting this code is access to the universe.

Opalinski extended these beliefs to his work as a math teacher at Lackawanna High School. As a mathematics teacher, he aims to teach mathematics in its truest form: a source of creative knowledge. He emphasizes the wonders of mathematics and its innate relationship with music in his classroom.

The other half of the duo, Swisher, is a retired earth science teacher from North Tonawanda High School. He picked up an acoustic guitar in his late teens and went on to create music – and nine albums – with his best friend.

Swisher chose to go against the standard curriculum and “connect creativity, science and artistic angles.”

Through his work as an artist and teacher, he simply attempts to spread positivity.

Although Swisher and Opalinski have always shared similar beliefs, their lyrics are a representation of the coincidence of their spirituality and intellectuality.

Although the two have always been the basis of the Dooleys, they have been joined by a rotating group of members of the group since its manifestation.

The group has illustrated its dedication to the expansion of mental freedom through its constant performances at rallies, memorials, and different places of worship. Their music propagates the ascension of the soul and the spirit.

The duo refused to let preconceived notions of what defines music, math and science limit what they can do. This unique perspective is part of what landed the Dooleys in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame.

They rely on the idea that everything is a frequency and that one simply has to tune into that frequency and the pursuit of knowledge will follow.

The arts office can be reached at [email protected]

Photo: Courtesy of Jorge Zhang and Mohamed Ali Larbi Daho Bachir.