bandman

Another year – another – well let’s just say another year!

We had our spring concert tonight. We made our obligatory superiors at festival this year, and the kids played a very fine concert tonight, but this was a disappointing year. Overall I really think it was the least talented group I’ve taught in 30-years, but they played well because they have a veteran teacher who is able to get the most out of them. They really did not have a great attitude, didn’t work as hard as they should have, but will be able to walk out of the school saying they were a “superior band”.

I should be happy that the concert was a great success tonight, but I have a hollow feeling, I’m glad they did well, but they didn’t learn the lesson that you always need to give 100% and do your very best. I wonder what this band would have sounded like with me as the director 30-years ago – with no experience, and no clue how to fix things that were really hard to be fixed.

Oh well, I have one more year under my belt. I enjoyed many of the students that worked hard for me, and appreciate that they were able to compensate for those that only gave a partial effort. I move on to next year – the band will grow by 7 members, and the 7th graders are the strength of my band, and the 5th and 6th graders look to be good groups. I guess I should be happy and look forward to the future. As for now, I look forward to tomorrow night and a few adult beverages!

tpter1

I wonder if this is a national trend, Bandman. We've had our share of issues up here, as well. They're similar. And, oddly enough, it is my 5-6 group that is also the group to watch for me, too. It's funny, eh? How the job ebbs and flows like the tide. You look back over the year as a teacher, and think about all the things you were so excited about in September, and how things have changed over the year: did you do everything you wanted, did you cover all the bases you had hoped, did all of those objectives (or most anyway) get met, how did you do with that new thing you were going to start trying this year... I was just think those things the other day. I raise my coffee to you! (We still have about 6 weeks).