News fom the Districs DISTRICTS, from p. 35
than to sit back and soak in the memory of Friday, but we are in a position of needing to keep moving forward. However, I didn’t want the impact of their musical experience to go unnoticed. So, I handed students a blank piece of paper and asked them to pretend, for a moment, that they kept a journal. They were instructed to write a journal entry about the experience that just ended on Friday afternoon.
The following are excerpts from some of our band’s finest, and really points at the things we learned through the moments in our day that inspire us to continue learning:
“
...and that moment, I think I truly just let myself play my instrument. I don’t think I can really explain it better than that. We always talk about how important focus is during a performance, and how we cannot go on “auto-pilot,” but, at that moment, I didn’t THINK of what I was doing, I FELT it, and it just kind of happened.”
“
...as we played, my hands were buzzing, and we were going along just like always. The climax of Joy is where I really felt the impact of the music we were making together. This was something we couldn’t have pulled off without everyone giving 100%. I’ll never forget the journey we took together...”
“...what an amazing journey. I think this entire experience has given this band a new perspective on music. We’ve learned that focus is
essential...the amount of intensity we had as a band is what we need everyday. It absolutely blows me away to see how much this band grew...”
“…as time went on, we started to be more passionate. Instead of just reading the black and white on the page, we became real musicians…”
“...if I decided to become a musician for a career, instead of a doctor, this was the moment that impacted that decision. I am so grateful that I can even play and be able to create such a necessary beauty in the world...”
38
As you can see, the moments in our day have such a profound impact on the lives that we lead. I can only hope that we, as educators, as musicians, can inspire this type of learning and journey to impact the lives of our students EVERYDAY. As you enter the closing months of the school year, take time to find these things out from your students, it is a treasure, and something that has taught me that I am a student of their’s as well.
WEST CENTRAL DISTRICT #4 Adam Twenter, MMEA District President
“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel.” – Socrates
When I think of all the things that we have the opportunity to instill in our students, the list is extensive. Think about it for a minute…work ethic, responsibility, ability to work with others, leadership and dedication is quite a list to put out there for each student we encounter. Perhaps the greatest gift we can give our students isn’t a trip to some exotic locale, a performance in a parade, or an incredible moment in a concert; perhaps it is the gift of life- long learning. We often think that, with any luck, we lead our students to be better people than when we first encountered them; and in many ways we do. But, of greater importance is what our students do with those skills and their desire to learn once they leave our program. If my seniors show the same enthusiasm to learn their craft as my sixth graders, that is exponentially more rewarding to me as an educator. Trophies and awards are great, but when students continually desire to get better while in our program and especially once they leave our oversight, it is the greatest award we can earn. I have a student who took my Music Appreciation class as a freshman and shared with me throughout the year that he regretted never taking band. After a year of intense private lessons on percussion with me, I allowed him to join band. This year, as a senior, he is one of my best percussionists. Why? This student contacts me no less than 4-5 times a week outside of the school day with questions about percussion and music theory. His thirst for knowledge motivates me even when I really don’t feel like answering a
See DISTRICTS, p. 39 MISSOURI SCHOOL MUSIC | Volume 71, Number 3
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