The Used Car Salesman and the Chevy Vega

With the middle of January comes the annual angst associated with recruiting and registration. You know what I’m talking about, that time of year when we walk the fine line between honesty and used car salesmanship. You want to be honest about the commitment and workload associated with your classes, but you also want to attract as many students as possible.
 
In thinking about this challenge, I thought I would share this with you. A recently released study of teen and pre-teen students determined that;

• 85% say they sometimes wish they had more fun when playing
• 84% say that at one time they quit or wanted to quit. Why?
• 47% say because “it wasn't any fun”
• 29% say some students were mean
• 23% say there were too many practices that interfered with other activities

I know what you’re thinking. “We know Scott, we hear this stuff every day!”

Perhaps, but this was not a survey of music students, it was a survey regarding student participation in athletics.   

The challenges we face are not unique to music or any other activity. I also suspect that they are not unique to this generation. I genuinely believe, and have evidence to support the notion that today's students are working harder and achieving more than any previous generation.

The bottom line is that kids (and people in general) are attracted to success. They don’t mind commitment and hard work as long as they and their parents feel that it is working toward a positive end. Kids and parents all too often hear the message that “the arts are struggling, are in trouble, and need to be saved."

Who wants to join doom and gloom?
Who wants to board a sinking ship?
Who wants to spend their days with one foot in the grave?

Not me! And I suspect that I am not alone in this. And more importantly, IT’S NOT TRUE!

I think we are on the precipice of a music renaissance unlike anything we have seen in recent memory. I think we are on the verge of a reemergence of music in our public and private schools. In the coming decade, I believe that successful music teachers and music programs will become highly celebrated and sought after components of our school systems.

I share this with you because I think it is important for you to know. I share this with you because I think it is important for your students to know. I think it is important for you to share the message of what music can do for a child, but do it with some swagger and an air of success.

In the coming weeks, as you talk to students and adults about your program and what it has to offer, keep in mind that you have something they need. You have something that is successful. You have something that makes a difference. You have something they want.

  A Chevy Vega (my first car) has to be sold. A Tesla sells itself. This activity is no Vega.

The Long View

We’re back! Did you miss us? If not, keep it to yourself because our feelings are easily hurt.

On New Year’s Day, a group of my former students started posting online about their own experience with the Tournament of Roses Parade. One thing led to another and before I knew it, someone had posted old show videos, concerts, and other memorabilia. I tried to stay away from the fray, so as not to detract from their dialogue, but like a raccoon seeing a shiny object, I could not resist. I watched, listened, and read everything that was posted.

As I watched the videos, all I could hear were the imperfections of an inexperienced teacher; truncated notes and incomplete phrases layered over marching technique that was clearly outdated. I wondered if my students saw and heard what I did. I wondered if they picked up on all of the mistakes. I wondered if they knew that that they would have had an even better experience if I were their teacher now instead of twenty years ago

As I read through the comments, no one seemed to notice or care about the outdated marching style or poor musical choices. In fact, they didn’t even mention anything music or marching related. All they remembered was their experiences they had and the impact it had on them. It turns out that in their minds, they had a perfect experience, despite imperfect performances. I was amazed that even after so much time, they were able articulate the impact of their band experience in such an eloquent way

One of the things that makes music different than other curricula is that the assessment of it’s impact is unknown for years, if not decades. Yes, you receive ratings and rankings in the moment, but these do not assess the life long impact of the activity.

Assessment requires exact indicators and precise measurements. It requires adherence to a time table and consistency of administration. We achieve all of this through festivals, contests, and performances. I am confident that my assessment of these long ago performances is correct. I am just not sure that I am ready to assess the impact of them as that may take more time to determine.

How much time? 

Check back with me on New Year’s Day 2025.

Cyber Monday and the Alamo

As I write this, it is Monday, December 1st, otherwise known as “Cyber Monday” and my inbox is under siege, I'm talking about a full-on assault of spam-filled, useless, pretend price reduction crap that makes me truly wonder if the internet is not just some big Sears catalog. My spam filter is putting up a valiant fight, but I think even he knows that the battle has been lost and all that remains is the reverent playing of taps. I think Cyber Monday should be followed up by “Leave Me Alone Tuesday!"
 
In order to be able to effectively advertise and still sleep at night, you have to convince yourself that your uninvited invasion is actually doing the recipient a favor. That somehow, despite the presence of Google, Bing, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari, without your inbox insurgence, they might otherwise be completely unaware and unable to locate you. It is an act of cognitive dissonance to be sure.
 
I know this, because I practice this ritual on a weekly basis. Without asking, or even warning, I barge in each and every Wednesday like the obnoxious party crasher than no one invited. In order to do this and still have a shred of self respect, I convince myself that my missives have said something you need to hear. I realize that this is somewhat delusional, but like I said, you do what you have to do to sleep at night.
 
It's not likely that I will stop barging in. After all, I am nothing if not persistent. But, it occurs to me that I have not genuinely thanked you for allowing me to stay. I have enjoyed are chats and am thankful for our time together. Well, that and the fact you haven’t called the police on me.  

Oh, and I'll be back next week, because I have something you are REALLY going to need and love!
 

I'm not a good secret keeper!

The combination of no impulse control, a guilty conscience, and an overactive imagination makes me the worst secret keeper in the world. I have the best intentions, and don’t want to spill the beans, but inevitably, I do. Let’s just say that if there is something you are trying to hide, something you don't want anyone else to know: DON'T TELL ME. 

Having said that, I have been doing a pretty good job of keeping some secrets lately. I’m not talking about the “I know where Jimmy Hoffa is buried” type secret, but secrets none the less. Believe me, I am just DYING to tell someone. Thank goodness you aren't here.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be letting the cat out of the bag. In fact, we're going to let several cats out of the bag. Honestly, it is like a LITTER of cats coming out of this bag. I am not sure who put the cats in there, but if you could keep that a secret from the folks at PETA, I would appreciate it. As I mentioned, I am not good at keeping secrets.

More next week, but until then...

Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the time away from school!

Clean out the clutter!

One of my favorite days of the year was the first Monday after the end of marching band.  I would sleep in, arrive to school AFTER the sunrise, dress in normal clothes, and enjoy a cup of coffee in the cozy and quiet confines of my office.  What followed for the remainder of the day was a thorough and well orchestrated cleaning of the entire facility.  Marching instruments and equipment were cleaned and put away, silks were folded, music was filed, lockers were inspected, pit carts were disassembled and the smelly old clothes and shoes were banished.  We would play rock music over the sound system and giggle while we cleaned. I LOVED this day.

It was more than a physical cleaning, it was a mental and emotional cleansing. It afforded all of us a chance to put away the baggage of the past sixteen weeks and review our commitment to the remaining challenges ahead. There was a little sadness, and some relief, but most of all, it was an acknowledgement and an acceptance that it was time now to focus on other pursuits. It truly was a fresh start for everyone!

Whether your season ended in success or disappointment does not change the fact that everyone needs closure...physical, emotional and intellectual. Now is the time for a fresh start for the room and the people in it!

The Sky is Falling!

Almost every day, I read or hear one of the following statements:
Music education is in trouble.
Music education is in danger of extinction.
Music education is going the way of the dinosaurs and the Flobie.
 
Okay, I made up the part about the Flobie.
 
The problem is, none of the statements above is rooted in fact. Here are some facts:

• The number of music programs in this country growing.
• 94% of all public elementary schools currently offer music.
• A similar number exists for secondary schools.
• Instrument sales are increasing annually
• Eleven months ago, USA Today ranked “Music Director” as the #3 fastest growing job in the United States. 

A conspiracy theorist might suspect that there has been a calculated and systemic campaign designed to trick people into believing that music education was in trouble, and I would agree.
 
Who would do such a thing? Who would plot against music and America’s children?
 
Music teachers, that’s who.
 
It seems like every time I speak to a teacher, they lament the current state of music education in America. They often speak with a sense of despondence that would make Eeyore seem like a motivational speaker!  Yes, music teachers, the very people in charge of spreading the good news are the ones most often deaclaring doom and gloom.
 
When did we decide that music education was in trouble? When did we get so down on music education? If you look at the long-term growth of music education, you might scratch your head and wonder why we aren’t all celebrating our gains instead of predicting our deaths.

• One hundred years ago music education did not exist.
• Seventy-five years ago it was an after school activity.
• Fifty years ago there were few options for festivals and performances.
• Twenty-five years ago, there were no national competitions.
• The level of demand and achievement for most ensembles is increasing annually. 

I do believe teaching music is getting harder, but not because it is diminishing, because it is growing. It is growing in quality and quantity.  It’s getting harder because you are doing, teaching, and achieving more than ever before. 

If easy were what you were looking for, you would not have survived ear training and class piano, so I figure you're up to the challenge. When it comes to music education, I don’t think the sky is falling, I think the ground is rising.

The Results Are In!

The ballots have been cast.
The votes have been tallied.
The results are in.

WAIT A MINUTE.  I just want to be sure we are talking about the same thing. You know...the votes you cast about music education advocacy.

As was the case with the general election, some results were expected while others came as complete surprise. Rather than have you sift through seventeen pages of data, I will provide a quick synopsis of the results and a brief take on what it might all mean. But first the results:

• 96% of you listed advocacy as either somewhat important or very important to the survival of your program
• Only 55% of respondents listed current efforts as having an impact in the area of advocacy
• According to respondents, the number one priority in the area of music education should be to develop resources to increase enrollment
• The next two priorities were developing research materials about academic successes of music students (2), and creating materials to save threatened music programs (3)
• Awarding grants(4), lobbying politicians (5), and teacher in-service events (6) rounded out the field.
• As far as non-profit institutions making an impact, the top five were as follows (in this order): NAfME, MFA, VH1 Save the Music, NAMM, and the Grammy Foundation
• As far as for-profit institutions making an impact, the top five were as follows (in this order): Local music store, Conn-Selmer, Yamaha, professional publications, and JW Pepper Music
• 51% of respondents stated NAfME was “effective in this area." An additional 5% of respondents stated that they were very effective.

There is much more information to share, but your time and my attention span are limited.  If you are a data geek or are just generally interested in all of the results and comments, shoot me an email and I will send them to you.

If you have not taken the survey, it is not too late as we are still collecting both data and comments. You can take the survey by clicking here.

Joe Hart Has a New Job

Yesterday was election day!  The country's bi-ennial electoral process is complete and the results are in. The result? Exactly half of you are in ecstasy and the other half are in agony. The only people who are one hundred percent happy are the cable news networks.

Like most of you, I voted. I cast my ballot and affirmed the right granted to me by our forefathers and inscribed in our constitution. I made my voice heard and ensured that my vote was counted. Yes, that’s right. Yesterday, I proudly cast my vote for… State Mine Inspector!

Seriously? They want me to vote on mine inspector?  

Look, I am not saying we shouldn’t inspect mines, in fact, I’m pretty sure that’s good idea. I am just saying that I might not be your go-to guy on this one. I don’t know anything about mines or any other holes in the ground, so it is unlikely that I am going to be able to make the right call. For this decision, you might be better off talking to my dog Rexi. She has considerable expertise and experience in hole digging and is, dare I say, somewhat of a savant in this area.  Don’t believe me?  I have a back yard full of evidence that says otherwise. Heck, Rexi should run for the office of State Mine Inspector.  But she didn’t so I voted for someone else.

Joe Hart is the guy who got my vote for State Mine Inspector. You know why? Not because his party affiliation. Not because of his qualifications. Not because of his impressive background in all things mine related.  I didn't vote for him because of his website, campaign literature, or his incredible performance in the Mine Inspector Debates. I voted for him because he was the only one on the ballot.

That’s right, he is running unopposed. And he’s not the only one. His candidacy is joined in its singularity by the offices of State Treasurer, City Constable, two State Supreme Court Justices, three appeals court judges, four school governing board members, and the County Dog Catcher; where once again, Rexi would make for a more informed voter.

As a country, we like politics in the same way we like our schools: we talk a lot and walk a little. We want to expend very little effort but achieve great results. We want to spend no money but achieve great things. We create a fuss when we are mad but don't praise when all is going well. We want ACTION, as long as it coincides with our beliefs. Most of all, we want accountability for everyone else, while we sit on the couch and watch re-runs of season sixty-four of Survivor

Through it all, you take the beating and keep on teaching. You do the job that everyone thinks is important, but no one wants to do. You work longer hours, achieve greater results, and do it for for less money than ever before. While everyone (myself included) talks about democracy, you teach it. While everyone else cries for better schools, you build them. While everyone hopes for a better future, you create it.

Thank you for your service to our country and our children. Thank you for teaching them in your classes, eating with them at lunch, and supervising them while at play. Thank you for caring for them morning, noon and night. Thank you for safeguarding the minds, hearts, and bodies. Just… Thank you!

Yes, our mines are now safe, because of Mr. Joe Hart, but our children's minds are safe because of you.

Your Opinion Matters

In today’s high stakes testing climate, advocacy efforts on behalf of music education have become paramount to the success of our programs. To that end, the better we understand what organizations and programs are having the greatest impact in this area, the greaterer the gains we can make.

Two weeks ago, we “teased" this issue by asking what you would do to help music education if we gave you one million dollars. The answers were as diverse as they were impressive. It was evident in reading the responses how important you believe advocacy is, and made us want to hear more from you. To that end, we have put together a brief survey to get a “wide-angle” look at this important issue and are hoping you will share your thoughts with us.

We recognize that their are many dedicated and AMAZING educators and organizations doing incredible work; however, in the interests of clarity and brevity, we have tried to limit the response choices to organizations that are widely recognized and operate on a national level. Since our email database is primarily made up of instrumental music teachers, we have not included organizations affiliated with choral music as the results would not be statistically valid.

You owe us nothing and have no reason to participate other than professional kindness. However, the more responses we get, the more valuable the information becomes. As was promised with the “million-dollar” question, we promise to share the data with you in the coming weeks.

This survey is not meant to stand the scrutiny of a doctoral dissertation or question the work of the many dedicated people who believe in the power of music in our schools. We are merely trying to better understand what works and what is having an impact that we can develop and modify programs to have the greatest impact possible.

Please share this with all of your colleagues/assistants/friends/music supervisors/etc. All responses are completely anonymous.

Take the survey now.

No, really…

Please take the survey now.

Thanks to all of you who work tirelessly to teach your students and advocate for this activity. You do make a difference and you are having an impact.

With great sincerity,

I LOVE Halloween!

As a teacher, one of my favorite events of the year was our annual sectional pumpkin carving contest. If you have never done one of these, you should try it. It was a ton of fun and gave the kids a creative outlet during the last part of the season. I would award caption prizes and let my administrators serve as judges. 

However, this usually meant having to explain that abstract piece of “art” that was the trombone entry, and that they were not a danger to themselves, the school, or society in general.

Don't contact me next Saturday, I will be pillaging my son’s Halloween haul for Butterfingers. Don’t judge, he’s four and I changed his diapers, so I'm taking what I want.

I may need to go to Butterfinger rehab.  What’s your drug of choice?