Hootie helps me...

One of my “pre-session” rituals is to listen to Darius Rucker’s (former front man for Hootie and the Blowfish) THIS. The catchy melody and poignant lyrics remind me that my personal and professional life has been a journey in which everything, good and bad, has led me to be the person I am today. You can check out the song here.
 

 
For every stoplight I didn't make
Every chance I did or I didn't take
All the times I went too far
All the girls that broke my heart
All the doors that I had to close
All the things I knew but I didn't know
Thank God for all I missed
'Cause it led me here to

THIS

Maybe it didn't turn out like I planned
Maybe that's why I'm such, such a lucky man
 
At the start of every school year and season we begin with big plans and grand visions. We dream big and strive for greatness in hopes of a better life for ourselves and our students. This 182 day journey will likely be filled with as many failures as their are successes. You are likely to fail to reach some goals you had but are just as likely to reach some you never set. You will miss the students you lose and gain some unexpected ones. Some performances you expect to go right may go wrong, and some you expect to go wrong may turn out right. Either way, it’s the journey that makes this activity so special and not the destination.

Personally, the past six months have been a roller coaster of highs and lows as my team has worked tirelessly to transition Be Part of the Band into Be Part of the Music. Sixty-six corporate pitches (8 yes, 56 no), nine plane flights, hundreds of hours in editing, writing, re-writing, and coding have led us to this moment. On the eve of the release of Be Part of the Orchestra, I can honestly say that:

Maybe it didn't turn out like I planned
Maybe that's why I'm such, such a lucky man

Thanks to my incredible, goofy, hard working and visionary team (Paul, Julie, Leah & Clayton) and our selfless sponsors for helping bring this amazing project to life!

Jefferson County Public Schools gets it!

I am excited to announce that the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky is getting serious about ensuring that every child has an opportunity to Be Part of the Music. In addition to hosting a teaching in-service where I met with all music teachers in the district and discussed recruitment and retention strategies, the district purchased Recruitment Kits for EVERY music teacher in EVERY elementary school!  Wow!  That is a commitment to music education!
 
As we transition the Be Part of the Band website to a the more inclusive Be Part of the Music site, one of our hopes is that school districts and communities will begin to recruit on a more holistic level. Instead of each teacher approaching recruiting individually, we believe that the synergy of an ENTIRE district music faculty approaching recruiting in a cohesive, communal, and united way will result in a greater gain in studentenrollment numbers for everyone.  Way to go Jefferson County Public Schools!

The Trump Bump

I don’t know if you watched last week's Celebrity Apprentice…. um, I mean the Republican Presidential Debates, but it was theater not to be missed. I generally shy away from discussing politics with these newsletters, as there is little to gain and lots to lose, but this is different because it’s not about politics, it’s about a persona.

Last Thursday Donald Trump landed on the stage and set off fireworks with every word. And yet, through it all, he emerged virtually unscathed and with a widening lead in the polls. It seems the more bombastic he gets, the higher his numbers rise. I call it “The Trump Bump.”
It’s easy, if not enjoyable, to watch because much like every other facet of reality TV, his communication style feeds our desire to feel smarter and superior to everyone else. I’m just not sure it’s the way we want our leaders to behave, whether they are leaders of our country, our communities, or our music programs.
 
This past week I had the opportunity to spend with several VERY fine programs. As a part of my stay, I watched rehearsals and saw these programs operate on the field and in the classroom. I was AMAZED!  Without exception, every instructor I saw operated an communicated in the most professional and positive manner possible. Their rehearsals were silent, efficient, and productive. There was no hype, hazing, or yelling.  There were just hard working teachers and harder working kids.

Let’s be clear… I am not the person to give advice when it comes to being over the top. But, I believe our country and it’s children take their cue from their leaders. I think it’s important that as music educators we serve as the model for what we want out students to be and behave in performance and in life.

During the long and grueling days of summer band, let’s show our students that reality is nothing like reality TV and that the band room is a much more civilized place than Donald’s Board Room.
 
No offense intended and all politics aside, I would personally feel better about our world and our bands iif we traded the "Trump Bump" for the "Trump Dump.”

Dear Brayden

(Today my oldest son starts his first day of band. Below is the letter I will slip in his trombone case.)

Dear Brayden,

Your mother writes you a note in your lunchbox every day telling you how much she loves you, so it only seems fitting that I do the same in your “band box."

You cannot know how happy I am to see you so excited about band. The journey that begins today will teach you things, take you places, and provide experiences that you cannot possibly imagine.  At your young age, you cannot understand this, but the trajectory of your life will forever be changed because of this decision.
 
You left the house today full of energy and excitement with your backpack and trombone. Yes, getting out of the car proved to require a little more coordination than in days past, but you navigated it well, with a smile on your face and a bounce in your step; however, I know that days such as these are numbered.

I suspect that in the months and years to come you and I will battle over band. I am sure that at some point you will ask, beg, and even demand to quit. I know that my insistence that you stay will be met with fierce resistance and sometimes tears of anger. I reluctantly accept that as a part of these discussions you will say some things to me that you will regret later. It’s okay, I know you will not mean it. Don’t blame your mother, this is my fight.

Just so you know, I will stand firm and not yield. I will wear your joy and your anger as badges of honor. I will not back down because unlike other parental choices I have had to make, in this I know I am right. There are few certainties in parenting and I believe this is one of them. You will one day thank me for this.

I do this because I love you and want what is best for you. And, when you do the same with your children, I will save this letter to put in your child’s instrument case on his first day of band. This will be our father/son tradition.
 
You're my buddy and I love you, no matter what forever!

Dad

p.s.  Just so we are clear: NO, you may not switch to saxophone. Trust me, when you get to high school, the trombones are way more fun!

Marching bandand your Giving Tree

It hardly seems possible that it has been fifty years since Shel Silverstein penned the children’s classic The Giving Tree. This literary parable has been a favorite of adults and children alike since it’s 1964 release. The Giving Tree tells the story of a boy and the tree who loves his so much that she is willing to sacrifice everything for him. Time and time again, the boy returns to the tree in search of something he needs or wants. He returns for her shade, her apples, her wood, her branches, her trunk, until there is nothing left other then her stump, which the boy (turned old man) uses as a place of respite. At the end, the tree is left old and broken with nothing more to offer after a lifetime of taking.
 
I know what you are thinking… THIS IS A CHILDREN’S STORY?  Romeo and Juliet is a pick me up compared to this. Stephen King would need a box of Kleenex after reading this sad story. Who in their right mind would read this to their children? Apparently me!

To be honest, I always wanted to do a show based on The Giving Tree. I can see it in my mind. The tree on the fifty yard line, disappearing branches throughout the show until there is little left as the band exits to the end zone, leaving nothing more than a stump and a lonely man on the field.

More than a show concept, The Giving Tree is a parable for the season ahead. In August, we are in full strength, an impressive display of energy and health. Week by week, day by day, rehearsal by rehearsal, our energy and spirit life is taken from us by the activity until, at the end, months from now, we are left a shell of our former selves.

But in the season that is our Giving Tree, unlike the book, your sacrifice nurtures the growth of everyone around you. Your sacrifice benefits every child you teach. Your loss is their gain. And unlike Silverstein’s tree, you will come back stronger than ever next year.
 

Good bye Vic!

As a drummer, and a one time avid user of Vic Firth products, I was especially saddened to hear of his passing on Monday.  More than an industry leader and philanthropist, Vic legitimized the art of percussion and music education as whole. Our profession, and the world of percussion, will forever be changed because of his efforts.

As I look forward, I wonder who in our profession will be his equal. I wonder who are the giants of the future. I wonder who will help to carry the torch he and others before him carried with such ease.  Firth, Fennell, Reed, Ravelli, and beyond.  Who will take their place? Who are the legends of the future? I don’t know WHO they are but I have an idea WHERE they are… in a band room somewhere!

Son, I think it's time we had a chat...

(This is how I imagine a parent & band student conversation going during the first week of band camp.)
 
Son, sit down and have a seat.

Listen, I was in your room last night looking through your music collection. Why? Because I am your father and its my job to meddle. We need to talk about what I found. Frankly, I am a little disappointed in you. Who is this John Mackey? Does he bite off the heads of bats? Is he in a cult? I looked him up and I didn't see anything related to drugs, sex, or rock and roll… not a trace.

BTW...I found your magazine stash under your bed. Clarinet Journal? Is that one of those how to manuals on how to turn your instrument into one of those hookah pipes we’ve been hearing about?
 
Your mother and I know about the liquor cabinet, too. We know the old tricks of drinking the booze and replacing it with water and food coloring. Listen kid, I invented that stuff. We know when the booze is missing, and it wasn’t.
 
Remember last weekend when you promised to be home with my car by midnight? Your mother and I were worried SICK about you only to find you asleep, at home, before curfew!  

Something crazy is going on and frankly, we're concerned. You leave early and come home late. What are you doing all day? Why are you always so tired? Normal stuff?! No, I don’t think so! Normal kids sleep until noon and are out all night, but not you. Your brothers and sisters were normal, and by normal, we mean horrible!   What’s going on with you?  Are you 16 or not?  

What’s going on with you? Where is the little boy that we loved and couldn’t trust? What’s the deal with that? Are you 16 or not?
 
As you begin band camp, I thought this might be a fun way to remind ourselves that despite their shortcomings and mistakes, your students really are a cut above the average teenager.  
 
 

Yoga Pants and my lawnmower

As I write this email, my wife is sitting next to me in her yoga pants and sipping her green juice "smoothie" (although it looks kind of chunky to me). She is reading her mindful magazine and practicing living in the moment. This is just a part of her daily wellness ritual. She is the picture of health and truly looks more youthful and beautiful each and every day. I genuinely respect and appreciate her approach to life, but have no desire to emulate it.
 
To me, her juice tastes like how I would imagine it would be to clean the underside of my lawnmower with my tongue. Yoga? Well, a couple of years ago I gave it a shot and let’s just say that there was a lot of swearing going on.  After one particular session of colorful curse words my wife said, “I think you might be missing the point of yoga!” To which I responded, “I think you are missing the point. If the supreme being wanted my foot to go there, then he would have put it there.”
 
Needless to say, I am not a flexible person… physically, emotionally, cognitively, or well,  in any other way.

I like things to be left they way I left them and in the place I put them. I like things to go as planned with few hiccups or surprises. I do not like beginnings or endings, they are messy and unpredictable. And despite my displeasure, here we are again at the beginning of another school year.  Yes, today we all begin again...   

Today is the first day of someone's new career/job.
Today is the first day of someone's retirement.
Today is the first day for your new students.
Today is the day someone will lose a leader and gain a new member.
 
With all of this messiness, might I suggest that you take a different path and less rigid path than me and celebrate these changes.
 
Today, let's celebrate the kids that walk through the door and not mourn those who don’t.
Today, let's let go of last year and embrace this one.
Today, let's not worry about "what will be” and enjoy "what is."
Today, Iet's be thankful that we teach music.

As I said, change is not easy for me. I get cranky when things are not as I like them. Full disclosure, I should admit that I have been taking Metamucil since the eighth grade, and want nothing more than for you to keep that infernal racket down as it is making it hard to hear the questions on Jeopardy.
 
As for the green juice and yoga pants…  I will stick with my running shoes and bacon thanks.

Welcome back... We begin again, and I must admit, it feels pretty good.

Simple questions with complex answers...

Hey everyone... editing work on Be Part of the Orchestra and travel outside of the country will continue our newsletter hiatus for another couple of weeks. However, since we know many of you are the planning stages for your student leader training and band camp, we thought we would pass along some of thoughts and ideas about how to best prepare your student leaders for future success.
 
 
The leadership trainer in me is always seeking higher truths and greater understanding when it comes to developing student leaders. The band director in me is looking for concrete and practical applications that can make an immediate and measurable impact on my program.
 
As a director, it is difficult to find the balance between the practical and the philosophical when training your leaders. You want to challenge their minds and enrich their souls, but let's be honest, the band room needs to be cleaned and the truck must be loaded.
 
Below you will see five philosophical concepts alongside five practical applications to teach your student leaders. This is not meant to be a complete training guide, but rather a "greatest hits" list. Together, they create a leadership training guideline that will help to address both the conceptual and the concrete.   

5 Philosophical teachings

• Process vs. Product (which is more important and how one affects the other)
• Parameters (what student leaders can and can not do)
• Equity vs. Equality (teaching/treating people based on what they need)
• People vs. Performance (which is more important...the player or the person?)
• Permission (giving students permission to make leadership choices and decisions without fear of failure)

5 Practical applications:

• One thing a student leader should do before every rehearsal
• One thing a student leader should do during every rehearsal
• One thing a student leader should do for their section every week
• One thing a student leader should do for their director every day/week
• One thing a student leader should do to do to make band more fun

I am also attaching a copy of my 25 Discussion Starters and 50 Leadership Activity Ideas.  These six pages alone could keep any leadership team busy for weeks.  If you are looking for more leadership training materials, click here.  The PDF is below.

Why I make my kids do music!

Since I am here...  I might as well share this quick video I posted last week.

In an effort to vary the depth and delivery of my content. I have added a little video studio to my house. And by added, I mean I moved the guest bed over, and by guest bed, I mean where my dog sleeps.
 
I did this so I could record semi-professional looking videos with little to no set up time. The idea was that if the inspiration struck me, I could be camera ready in two minutes or less and that's exactly what I did!
 
Who knew my first one would be such a hit. The first video has over 5,000 views!
 
Click below to see why I make my kids do music and share/re-post if you like.

I brief video about the importance of music education