I would like to thank everyone for the support you have given me over the past two years. The people in our association that I had the privilege to work with and represent are quite simply the most admirable people I have ever met.
As the final weeks of school draws to an end, I cannot help but reflect on how important music education is and will continue to be for the future of education in Alabama. I encourage you to continue to help others understand the importance of our profession and the positive impact it makes on the lives of students. Here are a few suggestions that I leave with you to consider to help in this endeavor.
Set High Expectations!
Never before has there been a better time to make the music classroom the epitome of high expectations. Sometimes it seems society is setting the bar lower and lower each year, but we can be the exception. If you expect very little from your students (and yourself), that is exactly what you will get. Resist the notion that if no one expects anything from your program, then it is ok to deliver on that expectation.
Make no mistake, your students and their parents may not appreciate the rigor you provide them now but I can certainly say they will in the future. Shouldn’t we teach with the future in mind? Be the person that raises the bar and inspires others to do the same!
Make It Special!
Take every opportunity to create a special moment in someone’s life no matter how big or small the task.
The late Dr. Edd Jones, from the University of North Alabama, had a large impact on teaching me to have pride in all things. One day, while working in the music office together, he told me he had a doctorate in taping music. I then observed him meticulously space two pieces of handwritten music 1 mm apart while accurately connecting them with three pieces of tape creating one perfectly aligned foldable piece of music. The amount of time and effort he put into that task was a profoundly unique experience that I will never forget. Nearly 30 years later, I find myself smiling when I tape music together knowing Dr. Jones would be proud if he saw my work. I now realize that even the simplest of tasks can be made special, so long as you treat them as such.
Guess what? Your students are special too. The time and effort you consistently put into others will not go unnoticed. It will leave a lasting impact more powerful than you can ever imagine.
Take Care of Yourself!
A healthy and happy educator will attract positive attention from their community. You are extremely important to the people around you; therefore, you must take care of yourself.
Refresh your musical health by taking advantage to have great musical experiences. Attend a concert that you are not “in charge” of so you can experience the performance stress-free. Be involved with a local choir, band, or orchestra and enjoy the fulfillment of performing yourself.
Establish a new hobby this summer that you may escape to when given a chance throughout the year. This has truly helped me relieve stress over the years.
Rest! It is said that those that work using their mind rest by using their hands and those that work using their hands rest by using their mind. Find a physical activity that can give your mind a rest from time to time.
Get Involved
Did you know that an important difference between humans and animals is our ability to share stories? No other species uses stories to communicate information the way that humans do. Before technology conquered the world (I’m thinking printing press and not iPhone), humans used stories to communicate historical events, practical advice, and spiritual meanings. The human brain is wired in such a way that stories activate schema unlike anything else. You may forget all of the facts that someone tells you, but you will always remember their stories.
As the school year is coming to a close, it is a great time to reflect on the past year’s happenings. My first article as President of ABA talked about things returning to normal after the pandemic. I was convinced we had moved past the pandemic and were pushing back to the way we had always done things in the band world. In the words of Lee Corso, “not so fast!” However, as band directors always do, we made things happen in the face of adversity. It is easy to focus on all of the negatives of this past school year. There are so many positives that far outweigh the hard parts of our year. It makes how we ended the year even sweeter.
Reflecting back on the past two years of a challenging AOA presidency, I am honored to have served the dedicated, professional educators of our state. I have discovered that strength comes through diverse ideas, a wealth of varying pedagogy, and a creative grit that is determined to find success through cloudy times.
I can barely believe another academic year is almost in the books. I wish you success as you plan final concerts, assemblies, and graduation performances for the year. I hope you have a restful summer break and are ready to return to class next year with renewed energy.
