had a passion for discussing how superior the cornet was to the trumpet… and Dexter Greenhaw, from Athens HS who was multi-talented on bass guitar and trumpet and had the most positive outlook on life of anyone in the group…Sadly, Regina and Dexter both passed away in 2007.
They are both sorely missed by their friends, families and the band world. Wes Maddox was another person who gave me the opportunity to teach my first band camp at Holly Pond H.S. and to learn about working as a team to teach a show.
license! I have since had the opportunity to repay that good deed several times. Non-fatal mistakes are always personal growth opportunities. There was the time after our freshman year, my friends and I commandeered practice room number 119 as our hideout. We didn’t practice very much, but we wrote lots of crazy songs. Dr. Simpson eventually banned us from using that room as our hideout!
Service Through the POD I learned
Ken Simpson, from Atlanta was the first drummer I ever got along with and who helped me to appreciate and enjoy jazz.
The POD provided me with opportunities to perform in recitals, ball games, studio lab band, musicals, concerts and SOAR. I was able to play in many different situations.
The POD provided me with opportunities to travel to New Orleans and Gatlinburg. On the Gatlinburg trip I learned about the kindness of strangers. I lost my wallet and someone found it and mailed it to me with all of the contents intact except for the $3 postage. It contained thirty dollars which was all the money I had to my name, and my drivers
about service. One of the things I took with me from UNA was that leadership is about service. Leading is not about telling someone what to do, but it is about serving others. I had some great examples to follow.
Some of my classmates during that time have been tremendous leaders for our state music associations. I have classmates that served as Outstanding Band Directors, Principals, School Superintendents, District Chairmen, AMEA Presidents, state coordinators for the Tri-M Music organization, many committee members for ABA, and Phi Beta Mu International bandmaster fraternity members. Collectively, my classmates have produced thousands of
incredibly talented music students. Because of our background through the POD we learned the value of service to our school, our community, our state and to ourselves.
So, what does my experience with the POD have to do with Music Education? Just as I started this article, I believe that the three letters, SOS, state what that influence has been. First…Standards…as music educators, we must set the standards high so that the activity will continue to stretch and grow. Second…Opportunities…music educators must seek and provide opportunities for personal growth so that we may become better teachers, musicians and citizens. Third.Service…being a music educator teaches you to be a servant to others and to teach others that leadership is about service.
I challenge you to continue to set the standards higher and higher, and increase the opportunities for more and more students, and to encourage your students to take on leadership roles as servants for the cause of music education. I personally look forward to serving you as AMEA President.
10
August 2008
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