well. I now have 27 past students of Finally, I would like to repeat that Jim Hunt had a career as a music educa-
mine teaching music, many of them something was only important to the stu- tor for 42 years, most in the Puyallup School
teaching band. I hope to hear many of dents if they knew that it was important to District He taught at all levels and served the
their bands now that I am retired. the teacher. district as music supervisor. He was an out-
5) Stay active. Play your instrument and go standing elementary band instructor, building
to conferences. I play in the Tacoma the Jbundation for the superior band pro-
Concert Band, teach private lessons, and grams in the district. Jim is a member of the
always go to state and Northwest confer- WMEA Hall of Fame.
ences. WIBC is an excellent opportunity
to learn more about teaching.
&
6) At each conference I would try to pick
up at least one idea to improve my
teaching and then use it in the class-
room. Never be satisfied that you know
all you need to know about teaching
beginning band. At one conference I
attended there was a clinic on teaching
one of the instruments. There was Bob
Rink taking notes; I was pleased.
7) When you come across a good article
on teaching or attend a good clinic, be
sure to keep the material in a folder
where you will be able to find it. I had
my folder labeled “Useable Articles”
and I recently loaned it to one of my
former students who is now in her first
year of teaching band.
8) Remember that you are the motivator.
On bad days, we all have them, I
would sometimes secretly pick out one
student and try to make that student
smile. If I succeeded, that really helped
with the class. The students never
knew this little trick.
9) Be yourself! Don’t try to be an enter-
tainer or a comedian if that is not your
style. I really think that elementary stu-
dents are quicker than secondary stu-
dents to recognize if someone is trying
to be something he or she is not.
10) Teach the students how to practice so
they can practice effectively. Also teach
them how to take care of their instru-
ments and to clean them properly.
Perhaps the most important thing I
learned was to enjoy the students. I loved
watching them progress from that first day
of putting the instrument together to that
final performance in the spring when they
were able to showcase all that they had
learned. I learned that it was all right to let
the students know that I enjoyed them (I
did this more in the spring than in the fall).
TEMPO 38 MAY 2009
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