The Band
Director's
"Soap
Box"
| Musicians enjoy a
common but unattainable goal of perfection. There
are always wrong notes to correct, phrases to be
shaped, greater dynamics to achieve, and an ongoing
list of improvements to develop a better language of
personal expression. In the midst of all these busy
activities, we must find time to inform students and
parents about the reasons we have band in the first
place. It is more than just an entertainment group
which shows up at various athletic events, marches
in the local parade, and plays select concerts
during the year on appropriate holidays. As a music
educator, we must make it our responsibility to
inform others that band is an art form. By doing so,
there will be clearer understanding of why we have
band in our school curriculum. |
The following
condensed outline has helped us in this important
communication, and we offer a copy for your perusal.
Why Band?
was written by Dr. Tim Lautsenheiser, a truly gifted
educator, musician and humorist. He has had a
profound impact on music education in America -
mostly through his highly effective Band Leadership
Workshops that I and many of my students have
attended over the last several years.
This condensed
outline is intended primarily for School
Adminstrators and Board of Education members, but is
interesting reading for all persons interested in
BANDS.
WHY
BAND?
Band is intrinsic.
As with all art, it is about
expressing oneself via a different and unique language. Much
of academia is impressionistic, which requires a definitive
skill of following instructions. Band adds to that
requirement the option of self-expression.
Band is group
effort. Members are required to
shift from an I/Me reasoning to a We/Us concept. This means
extending oneself beyond the normal considerations of much
of our day-to-day living. Instead of the logic being, what's
in it for me, it becomes, what's in it for us? The values of
cooperation, communication, concentration, correlation, and
completion come into play each rehearsal and performance.
|
Band builds positive
self-worth. Although we share many
similarities with our athletic counterparts, BAND is a place
for everyone. Rarely is a person serving as an alternate or
substitute. Everyone in the band plays a starting role,
there are no "benchwarmers" in the band.
Band is preparation
for life. Through the discipline
of MUSIC, we are developing a consistent understanding
between the intellectual (cognitive) and emotional
(affective) thought processes. Band allows the person to
create formulas and pathways (and not just solutions) that
are directly transferable to other facets of life.
Although these four points
may seem lofty in character, they make up the fundamental
framework of our band program. As an administrator, you are
faced with many questions concerning the various aspects of
our school curriculum. Hopefully, this brief overview will
give you a first-hand look at the foundation that supports
our musical education program.
The band room door is always
open to you. Join us at any time, and thank you for helping
us as we continue our journey toward musical excellence.
Musically yours,
Rosemount High
School Band Staff
