Amy: What were your weaknesses and how did you compensate for these? Kathryn: I was too much of a perfectionist and didn’t see enough of the good. I felt as though I should have looked more at the positives and what they were doing right, plus I was so understaffed my last seven or eight years. There was just me, an administrative assistant and primarily one Graduate Assistant. But you need at least two strong full time directors who are teaching and recruiting for the band program on a consistent basis and whose objective is to work together as we administer the marching band program. If I had had more instruction assistance, I would have been available for the band members far more consistently. I know we would have been a more cohesive and successful marching program, and their MDB experience would have been much more fulfilling.
Amy: What did you learn from your students throughout your career? Kathryn: I learned that they will do just about anything you ask them to do. They wanted to please you and perform well, regardless of whether they liked a certain "show" idea or not. When we would hear real applause from the crowd,
they
obviously accepted the "occasional reality" that some of my creative decisions were "worthy". So they would listen to me. I certainly listened to them as well. We had to give and take. However, their dedication was superb!
Amy: What kind of impact do you think or
hope you had on your students? Kathryn: I hope they left knowing that anything less than their best was never acceptable. I preached that they would never
Amy: Why did you retire? Kathryn: "As Oprah recently stated:" 'It was time.' (laughs) Truthfully, I was giving out at the end. I would have stayed longer at the University, but again, you can only do so much with limited staffing and I refused to wear out my welcome. If I wanted to reach that next bar of excellence, then I had to have additional assistance. Looking after 350 plus students is a huge challenge and an immense responsibility. I tried my best to convince my supervisors that I needed
regret striving for excellence. I do believe that they understood that that’s what I expected! That’s what drove them, and consequently, drove me. And if they didn’t want to give me their best, then they needed to be in another organization. They inherently knew when their efforts were less than their best! They could tell from the reaction of the crowd, for the most part, and "my eyes". And you know, band members feel good when they are appreciated. Our efforts fed off each other.
Amy: What did you find most rewarding
about teaching? Kathryn: The students, without a doubt. Students are to this day my closest friends overall without a doubt. Their friendship was and still is invaluable to me. They were really all I had time for during my teaching career. It became such a 15-hour-a day minimum job and then we went on required trips. Many of them were fun and many were exhausting, but we had to do it, so I was with them seven days a week for many months. So there’s no question that the students and the relationships which were forged through our time together cannot be touched. That’s the gift of teaching!
assistance.
Amy: If you could start all over, would you still be a teacher or would you choose another occupation? Kathryn: You should always pursue your passion, but if you’re going to teach, it better be a passion. If it’s not, then you’re going to be unhappy in the long run because you’re certainly not in it for the money. "Would I change to another occupation?" I already have. I've been a Realtor with Realty Executives for several years since retirement! Tuscaloosa actually has weathered the real estate market problems far better than most Alabama cities. But in all sincerity, that's an easy one. When I am laughing and reminiscing with my former students and watching them emulate my every move during all of my rehearsal antics throughout the decades, I've never had a single regret!
Amy Spears is a doctoral student in music education at Arizona State University. Prior to coming to ASU, she was a director of two successful high school band programs in Alabama. In those positions, she taught a variety of instrumental ensembles including marching, concert, and jazz bands. Ms. Spears also taught music appreciation and guitar classes. In addition to her high school bands, she has also worked with beginning and middle school bands. She received her Bachelor of Music Education from Auburn University in Alabama and her Master of Music in flute performance from the University of Alabama.
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40 February 2011
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