bandman

Band directors,

I will be finishing the year on Wednesday and I was sitting today and thinking about my school year. I really hate to admit this, but I wish the year wasn’t ending, or I wish we had two weeks off and I could start the new year after a very short break. I know that most teachers look forward to the summer break. Not me, I'll really miss my students.

My band did well this year, making more improvement than any band I have ever taught in close to 30-years. Even more important is the fact that we had fun together. All but one of my 8th graders are continuing in high school band, and my younger bands had only one student choose to not return to the program next year. I will be losing a few students who are moving to Texas, and in both cases my loss will be a great gain for the band director in Texas (one in Houston and one in Austin).

What I’m saying is that I’m really lucky to have the great job I have teaching some pretty fantastic students. They are not all destined to become the next Wayne Bergeron, Eddie Daniels, or Harvey Philips, but they have fun, and I have fun teaching them!

So tell us about your year. Did you enjoy it as much as I did?

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davidjohnson

surprises. beaucoup scehdule snafu regarding new state requirements.
a good percussionist/tremendous vocalist moved back (8th grade and already performed in branson 2 summer seasons) from her short foray at another school. she was glad to be home...me too :).

an 8th grade trumpeter really took off. i never expected him to catch fire for the horn. nice. same happened w/some others.

started a 12th grade hurricane refugee on clarinet, she learned fast, but moved back to louisiana. lovely girl.

nice year.

bandman:

my trumpet section joined baa. pm me an email address and i'll send you some shots. the trumpet prof at one of the state universities called them 'the designer trumpet section'. we even did a short dvd. include a shipping address & you'll get a copy.

dj

tpter1

We had our ups and downs, like most everyone. The 7th and 8th graders really took off this year. Not a slacker in the bunch. So did my 6th graders. They are really a funny bunch. This 6th grade is exceptionally bright and creative, which creates a unique set of challenges. I have some really good seniors leaving me this year, so graduation will be tough for me.

Marching band is kicking in full swing over the next 2 weeks for the summer season, and they are looking absolutely astounding. We are going into our 3rd year as a marching band.

I don't think I'm really losing anyone...not that I've heard of, anyway, except for the graduating seniors. (I can actually think of 2 that I'm getting back next year). I can thank you, Bandman, for that, I think, because I tried really hard to open up a bit more to the kids this year. We've built some nice relationships.

Bottom line: I still love what I do. Very much. I can't wait for marching band season to get under way.

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-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

bandman

Thanks for the compliment, but you did what you did! If I inspired you to do something I feel very greatful for being able to do so.

I've read many of your posts (probably close to all of them). I can tell how much you like your students, and I bet they really like you too! When the going gets rough (and it does for all of us) try to remember the good times and work through it. I've had some times when I just could not stand to go one more day, but somehow the sun went up and I was back at school with the kids I love!

I saw my students for the last time today (until next year). There were lots of tears in my room. That made me feel good. I hope they miss me as much as know I will miss them.

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trpt2345

I had a stupendously awesome year, but that's not unusual because I don't teach in a school system, I teach in a private school, and a great one at that (The Merit School of Music in Chicago, www.meritmusic.org ). So I only do what I really like. And what I really like is jazz and latin music. My advanced band, the Honors Jazz Ensmble won a downbeat award (I tooted my horn about this in another forum) and my latin jazz band played at the New Trier fest in February and did really well. We also did a gig at a temple on the north shore (Am Shalom in Lake Forest) with several other groups from our school. It was notable because since I am such an idiot I forgot to bring the music but we played an entire set from memory and nobody knew! I told the kids that they did so well that I was going to forget the music next time too. We are actually going to play a free outdoor gig Sunday in Harrison Park (18th and Wood in Chicago) at 2:00 p.m. In case any Chicago area members want to have a fun summer fest afternoon with a latino flair. I WILL bring the music. And this year I had a beginning jazz small jazz ensemble for the first time and it went really well. The first day was kind of funny, no one knew what to do but by the end of the year it was a mildly swinging group.

I really get a lot out of teaching, it is something that is second only to performing in my life, and my only direction in teaching (all my degrees are performance) is remembering Einstein's saying that anyone who can't explain what they do to a 12 year old is a fraud. So this year is done and the next year is upon us, my new Honors Jazz Ensemble will be playing at 2:30 p.m. on Friday June 30 at the Fox Stage on Jackson and Lake Shore Drive which is the first day of Taste of Chicago, in case anyone's around.

Michael McLaughlin

"There is only one success, to spend your life in your own way." Christopher Morley

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Chicago MM

cornetguy

i havbe been subbing for several years, this year is the most i have worked in a long time, almost every day from before christmas to easter and the same until last week. not always in band, but working. the band days at junior and senior high went really well. always thought of myself as elementary but had less good experiences there then with the older students.

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Per aspera ad astra

mike ansberry

I had the best year of my teaching career. I have awesome kids in my classes. For the most part, I get the good, hard working kids. Some of the kids who don't work hard in other classes work hard in band because they enjoy it. The ones that are lazy and wanting to cause trouble don't stay around long when they see the amount of work that is going to be involved. But that is just a very few of the beginner class. Maybe 2 or 3 kids.

Guidance found a way to schedule an advanced band class for just my hardest workers. I teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade band. They put my best 7th and 8th graders together to make our elite group. What a gas that is! We can play some really neat stuff. We played Allegro Barbaro at festival this year. We also got invited to the Tennessee State Concert Festival. It is the first year that they've allowed middle school bands. The kids played great. We had more students make Midstate Honor Band (Tennessee is divided into thirds- east, middle, and west for districts) than any other middle school. Ditto with All County Honors Band. Really, the best thing was the way the group worked. They loved playing and were willing to work their tails off. We had great fun every day. And the effect it had on my other 7th and 8th grade classes was interesting. I thought they might be really difficult. But with the top players out of the way, other kids stepped up and took the lead. That was an opportunity they wouldn't have had otherwise.

All in all, an incredible year. I hope I have another one like it next year

I love my job! (and I always have.)

Wow, trpt2345. You guys kicked some serious but last year!

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"Music is a fire in your belly that has to come out of your mouth, so you'd better put a horn in the way before someone gets hurt" (paraphrase of Bleeding Gums Murphy)

surfhorn

I've spent the last year creating a new music program at a new high school.

Turned in my equipment order last June: well over $300K

School started mid August, was told I only had $150,00 to work with: turned in revised order

Two weeks later told I only had $80K to order equipment

So, in about a four week period, went from creating a full music program down to a small Latin jazz ensemble. Didn't start recevinig equipment unitl Feb.

School district has gutted music programs - eliminated elementary school and cut back midddle school. So I am receiving mostly beginners and few intermediates; no advanced students.

Other memorable times:

+ Fighting off approx. 50 young adults and nonstudents during the immigration demostratioins (riots) at end of March. Had to duck rocks, bottles and racial slurs while defending our students from outsiders bent on attacking our students (we're a new school so we only have frosh and sophs).

Myself and 2 female security guards (ex-military) were able to hold back the mob until 6 motorcycle officers roared up through our quad to back us up.
I just started tripping and throwing down anyone with a rock or bottle and had a pile of about 6 bodies to slow things down. Other teachers hid in classrooms. After that I kept a length of microphone stand next to my desk.

+ I was able to shape my band into a viable outfit where I could start a chart, walk off and they could finish together. Taught them a lot about performing live and a bunch of pro tricks.

+Formed strong esprit de corps within band students: us v. the world.

All those years playing in seedy clubs really paid off.

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Bach Strad 180S 37 (1970-71)
Kanstul WB 1600- silver
Marcinkiewicz Shew 1.5 mpc & 11-S
Schilke Flugelhorn/ Schikle 13AFL mpc
Kanstul CVT 959 Valve Trombone