Even though we know an ending is coming, we usually aren’t prepared for the ending to appear. The end of a job. The end of a TV show. The end of a career. The end of a school year. A constant in life is that when we start something new, an ending will eventually come. Each new beginning is the start of a journey that leads to an ending.
Endings are interesting. On one hand, endings give us a natural place to reflect and make judgments about the journey we just completed. Many times, endings are a way for people to tout the accomplishments of the journey just completed. Particular endings bring an overwhelming sense of relief because rest is coming. Some endings are a springboard that leads to new adventures.
Endings give us a natural pause for introspection. The value of a journey is often decided at the end. We can decide to dwell on what was or what didn’t happen, or we can celebrate the journey. Sometimes, endings aren’t what you expected or what you wanted. Part of our shared humanity is that we will experience many endings in our lifetime.
I’ve thought quite a bit about endings over the past few weeks. This will be my last President’s column in the Ala Breve. Two years have passed incredibly fast and my term as President of the Alabama Music Educators Association is coming to an end. I will tell you without a doubt, I am thankful for the journey I have been able to experience serving our Association.
One of my favorite songs is Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life”. I have vivid memories of listening to the 1966 LP on my grandparents’ record player as a child. If I close my eyes while I listen, I can hear the scratches on the LP and the rotation of the turntable from my youth. There are several different versions of the song by different artists, but for me, it always must be sung by the well-aged and bourbon-soaked voice of Frank Sinatra.
“I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet
A pawn and a king
I’ve been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself layin’
Flat on my face
I just pick myself up and get
Back in the race.”
One reason why I love the song “That’s Life” is because of the lyrics above. “I just pick myself up and get back in the race.” Many times over the past few years have we had to shake the dust from our shoes and keep running. COVID, budget cuts, staffing reductions, proration – I’ve seen them all. During each challenge, I’ve seen music educators find a way for music education to continue. We are experts at persevering and performing miracles to ensure children have music in their lives. Things will never be perfect, but we can always be the perfect person to provide music education for our children.
I would like to leave you with a few observations and a bit of advice. Stay vigilant and continue to advocate. Elected officials are going to continue to pass laws without thinking through the consequences of their actions. Education and in particular, arts education, shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Society will be better if children have access to a comprehensive and well-rounded education that includes music education. We must remain resolute in our demands that our elected officials do what’s right for our children and our state. We must continue to demand children in Alabama have access to music education K-12.
It’s easy to look at Georgia and Florida and see their successes in graduation requirements and diploma seals and be envious. Instead of turning green with envy – advocate and demand the same for our children. Advocacy is a personal responsibility of every one of us. If we want the same success that we see in other states, then we must work for the same successes and demand better for our children. Each of us must work daily to build advocates in our local communities to improve access to music education.
Music education provides a viable career path and builds children’s capacity to be successful in other careers. Americans for the Arts just released the latest “Why Arts Matter” fact sheet for Alabama (https://www.artsactionfund.org/alabama). According to the latest figures, the Arts and creative sector provides 6.4 billion dollars to Alabama’s economy and accounts for 2.6% of the state’s GDP. Music education can and is a viable pathway to Career and Technical Education. However, we must not allow Career and Technical Education to overtake music education. We must find a harmonious way to exist without one overtaking the other.
Our profession has stated since the 1960s that secondary music programs only reach 12-20% of secondary students. We must continue to expand music education offerings to attract the other 80% of students in our schools. There are children in our schools who are engaging in music outside of school and would welcome the opportunity to engage in music during the school day. I know how hard you all work and you feel that your plates are overflowing. However, the other 80% want to be involved in music.
What would our schools look like if we offered our traditional bands, orchestras, and choirs, but also offered Modern Band, Music Technology, Guitar, Composition, and other music courses? How many more children would be involved in music education? We are only limited by our own imaginations of what music education could be in Alabama. I would love to see a school where 80% of the secondary students were involved in music education and the state had to pay for additional teaching units for music educators. We must expand our secondary music offerings because some of the children that aren’t involved in our current secondary music offerings will be the decision-makers of tomorrow.
Our Association needs to speak up for the communities and schools where there isn’t music education. There are places in our state where music programs are limited or non-existent. We must stand in the gap and be the voice for the voiceless. I want every child to have access to music education taught by a certified music educator. The legislature is discussing changing the funding formula for the foundation program in the 2025 legislative session. This could be our opportunity to come together and advocate for the state to fund a music educator in every school.
Take care of each other. Education is hard, but it’s better when you have friends, mentors, and colleagues who check on you. When people ask me why AMEA and NAfME are important – it’s the people and friendships I have made. I have been blessed throughout my career to have wonderful friends and mentors who have supported me. Many of these relationships exist because of our shared involvement in AMEA. Our early career teachers need the experienced teachers. The experienced teachers need the early career teachers. I encourage you to connect with a music educator in your area every month next year. Have a meal, listen to each other’s ensembles, have a cup of coffee, and make a new friend.
I choose to look at this ending as a springboard to continue the journey. I look forward to finding new ways to serve our Association and music education in Alabama. As I’ve said many times – as long as I have a pulse and breath in my body, I will do everything possible to advocate for music education. Our state and our children need music education in their lives.
I’m excited about the future of our Association. You have selected competent and caring leaders that will propel us to new heights. Congratulations to our newest elected Governing Board members, Dr. Travis Bender – President-elect, and Heather Holmes – Recording Secretary! I know you will both do a fabulous job. We are depending on your leadership to drive music education forward.
We have a staff that is dedicated, hardworking, and committed to making our Association the best. Thank you, Rusty, David, Pat, and Garry, for your support of our Association! I couldn’t imagine the past two years without all of you. Our membership doesn’t fully realize what an asset you are to our Association. Thank you!
Dr. Phil Wilson is going to be a fantastic President and I can’t wait to see what the future holds under his leadership. I know Phil will lead our Association with the same care, grace, intelligence, and warmth that has guided his professional and personal life. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to serve as President with one of my dearest friends as President-elect. Thank you, Phil, for your help and encouragement over the past two years and throughout our careers. I value our friendship more than words can ever describe.
Friends, thank you for your service. Thank you for continuing to show up each day and ensuring children in our state have access to music education. Thank you for selecting me to serve YOU and Alabama’s students. It has been my honor to serve as the President of the Alabama Music Educators Association. I look forward to the journey ahead serving music education in Alabama!