FAME In elementary school, we are all


asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Usually, children want to be whatever profession they perceive as being important, compassionate, or helpful. My classmates were future doctors, veterinarians, fire fighters, policemen, and the like. However, when I was asked the question, I thought in my head, “I want to be a pianist.” Even as an elementary school student, the idea did not seem realistic but a few years later, I asked myself that same question, “What do I want to be?” and there was no doubt or hesitation. I wanted to be a band director. People questioned my decision, yet I never allowed their doubts to discourage me, because music has been, is, and will continue to be the source of my greatest joy and fulfillment.


Throughout my life, music has been


present. As an infant, my parents constantly played Little Mozart CD’s around the house and in the car. At a young age, my mom signed me up for dance, theatre, and singing lessons at a local studio theater, along with my older sister. My sister excelled in these classes, enjoying the spotlight. However, I would often find myself staring at the piano player. Her hands would bounce from one end of the piano to the other. I was absolutely hypnotized. My keen interest was obvious, and I quickly convinced my mom to allow me take piano lessons. From the very first lesson, I was hooked on music.


At the beginning of my sixth-grade


year, my closest friends joined the schools’ beginner band. Convinced I wanted to be a professional piano player, the band seemed like a distraction. After a bit of good-natured nagging and encouragement from my friends, I followed them to the band room to see for myself. Weeks went by and some of us received instruments and began learning note names, how to read music, and fingerings on our horns. I noticed that the kids who had not bought an instrument yet were falling behind. They were motivated and eager to learn but their parents could not afford to buy an instrument, or the school did not have enough loaners to go around. Eventually, these


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(Future Alabama Music Educators) Scholarship Essay


by Adrianna Gramalspacher


Editor’s Note: AMEA recently awarded the FAME scholarship to Adrianna Gramalspacher, a 2018 graduate of Thomasville High School. Scholarship recipients must have attended the FAME program and plan to major in music education at an Alabama university. Adrianna plans to major in music education at Troy University beginning this fall.


Why I Want to be a Music Teacher


students became bored and dropped out of band. The thought of those students still makes me sad. Despite their obstacles, they were there for the same purpose as I was - to play music. Watching this happen first hand has helped me realize that every student willing to learn should be allowed the opportunity to do so whether in music or other academic areas. For this reason, I established the Thomasville Reusable Instrument Program to collect, refurbish, or repair band instruments from the community. These donated instruments ensure that more students will have the opportunity to learn music and grow to love it as well.


My teaching experiences began at


the beginning of my sophomore year. Appointed the clarinet section leader in the spring of my freshman year, I had four rookie clarinets moving up to marching band. The rookies had not learned essential, basic music theory or how to adequately play their instruments. This was a huge struggle for my section. The clarinet section had the most rookies and I had to work very hard to supplement their instruction from my four years of experience as a clarinetist. I did this by conducting a sectional every Wednesday after school. After a few months, the musicians in my section were becoming more engaged with the music. I slowly raised the bar and expected a higher standard of performance. I saw their potential and that they were capable of being amazing musicians. I felt a deep sense of responsibility for what kind of musicians these girls would become. Although all my section members were progressing, some of them required more targeted instruction than the others. I decided to offer private lessons. Many of the clarinetists took advantage of my lessons and their musical growth increased rapidly.


I believe that music shapes a person


and a teacher is the one who helps mold that shape. A music teacher can change a student’s life, for better or for worse. Even though I was not excelling under my director’s teaching, I did not resign myself to settling for the minimum that was expected. I focused on


turning my situation on its head. In normal circumstances the lack of encouragement and direction could have snuffed out my fire for progressing in music. Instead, I used this to my advantage as motivation to be a better section leader and to make my section the best in the band. Sometimes this commitment meant staying longer after school with them and holding even more private lessons. I even began offering summer lessons. It was then that I knew that this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life; not only share music but be the one who plants that seed in a young person. Through my years as section leader, I have seen my fellow clarinet students grow as musicians and I have seen them achieve skills and milestones that they did not think were possible. Every time their eyes light up after I’ve taught them something or every time I see it “click” for them when I am giving a lesson, it makes me feel content. I not only love the musical side of teaching, but also when I teach them a life lesson. There have been many times when there was a dispute in the section and I would have to settle it. I can now say that I trust every single one of my section members to continue to expect a high level of cooperation and performance from the clarinet section. They have shown me that they respect the art and discipline of being in band and they know how to create heartfelt music. I want to mentor many more students like this, and I want to be the reason they flourish and grow.


Music has made me who I am today


and will continue to shape my future. I hope to be a band director who inspires her students by setting the bar high and to lead them by example. I am thankful to all the band directors in my life who have inspired and lead me and have taught me what it truly means to be a musician with heart and soul. Shinichi Suzuki once said, “Music exists for the purpose of growing an admirable heart.” By being a band director, I not only get to teach music, but I am able to create good people who will be willing to share the gift of music with others.


August/September 2018


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