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
I encourage you to volunteer for a position within your Division. Having an active part in a professional community brings a whole new level of gratification and legitimizes your role in much of your community’s eyes. My progression started by volunteering to help out with district events and committees and was followed by accepting the call to serve in a leadership position. A local band director called and asked me to serve as the ABA District 1 Chairman and I accepted. Two years later I married that band director. 🙂
Once you get involved, you have the opportunity to expand beyond your classroom and make the music community better. It allows you to display your professionalism and hold it in high esteem.
I hope you find these suggestions helpful. We must never forget that music is a wonderful gift and we are so privileged to be the ones to share that gift with others.
“Music is God’s gift to man, the only art of Heaven given to earth, the only art of earth we take to Heaven.” – Walter Savage Landor
As I fly off into the sunset, I look forward to seeing what the next four years will bring. Dr. Rob Lyda, upcoming AMEA president, has always been a champion of advocacy for music education in our state. I look forward to what he will accomplish in the coming two years followed by our new AMEA President-elect, Dr. Phil Wilson. The future is bright!
David Raney, President
Alabama Music Educators Association
