Louisiana Music Educators Association
CLICK HERE to return the the LMEA homepage.
President's Message
Carolyn Herrington
President, LMEA – February Article 2008
Happy New Year!! I know by the time you read this we will be well into February, but our time deadline for print is at the beginning of January, so HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!
As I look at getting back in front of my ensemble for the second semester, I have to tell you, that I truly can’t wait to get started. I had the wonderful opportunity in December to attend the Midwest Band clinic in Chicago. What a fabulous treat it is to see the best performance groups and to listen to the top of our profession give clinics to jump start us into a new year. Please allow me to share some of “what I learned at convention” with you….as I said already…IT WAS FANMARVELOUS.
One of the last clinics of the convention was entitled “Organize to Optimize: What All Music Teachers Need”. Frank Tracz, director of bands at Kansas State University was the presenter, and he was like a firecracker! He gave several examples of time bandits…you know, those stacks of paper that we collect at conferences and intend to read and then put into practice; that end up in stacks in our band office. After time, those stacks grow into small pieces of furniture. To cover our guilt, we cover the mounds of paper with a table cloth and decorate it with trinkets from our students and so goes the story. Do you have this type of furniture in your office, or is it just me? I hate that I can relate, but after cleaning up a 20 year old collection, the shoe fit. Time bandits (paper clutter) rob us of energy every time we walk into the office. It becomes overwhelming to think about all we have NOT done yet. Our time is PRECIOUS and VALUABLE, we don’t get a second chance at the first hour class, so we must organize to optimize our time and not let the time bandits win.
The second impression Frank Tracz left with me was the concept of how we affect people every day. More importantly, that our students come as a blank canvas, ready for us to place the musical art in to their minds. He gave an illustration by writing three numbers on the white board… 10 --- 80 --- 10. Frank then told us that 10 percent of the people we come in contact with will be positive no matter what we say…..the 10 percent on the other end of the spectrum will react negatively, no matter what we say. The eighty percent in the middle are ready to be swayed either way according to the input we throw out there. WOW…. to think that the possibility of a great rehearsal is up for grabs every single day! When I took time to digest that thought, it hit me again, that I am also responsible for being on the negative team by showing up with the wrong attitude. (Ouch!) I am more determined then ever to take responsibility for swaying the 80 percent to the positive side. Thanks so much Frank Tracz for encouraging this old band director to take a good look inward!
If you get a chance to search on line, you might want to check out the Allen ISD band program, from Allen, Texas. They have one of the largest programs in the country with 600 members. Yes that’s right….can you imagine 18 trail way buses to go on every away ball game. The clinic they gave was titled R & R required (Recruitment and retention). You can believe that the room was filled; we all wanted to know their secret for such great success. The bottom line was they insist on being FAIR, FIRM and FRIENDLY! Anthony Gibson, director of bands and Jay Lester, assistant, were both very dynamic speakers. All of their bands meet during the same hour. They have 5 or 6 different bands rehearsing during concert season within the facility. You know these teachers are talented at juggling schedules and also at making a schedule work for every student. Mr. Gibson was quick to tell us that even at their school band is a CHOICE, and their staff wants the best students to always chose the Allen Band! They encouraged all of us to email them, or just give them a call. Fair – Firm and FRIENDLY….gotta be doing something right to have so many followers!!
Hopefully you are encouraged by the stories of others’ success to get going and put a little skip in your step. It was fun to be a part of the learning community, yet I am also challenged to do a better job as I have a wonderful opportunity to work with my own students.
Have a great second semester – please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance to you.
Email:
dhsband@beau.k12.la.us
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ARCHIVE
CLICK HERE to return the the LMEA homepage.