Focus on What You DO Have, Not What You Don’t
As we launch into a new season, there is a danger in focusing on the wrong thing. Often directors and their staff lament all the shortcomings of their program: Not enough students, poor administrative or parent support, limited resources. If you find yourself thinking this way, I encourage you to make an important shift.
Focus on what you DO have!
Don’t have enough students? What can you do with the students you have standing in front of you? What are their particular skills and talents? How can you highlight every strength and hide all the weaknesses of the members you have? (And how can you build toward more students and better skills in the future? Start where you are and get to work!). And maybe watch this webinar.
Don’t have good parental support? What parents DO you have willing to help? What are their skills? Can they recruit from friends to help also? Can you make their time working for the band more fun and rewarding? Watch this webinar for ideas.
Have limited resources or administrative support? Look at what you DO have and then make the most of it. Be incredibly smart with the use of what resources you have. Can you use existing staff members in other ways? Watch this! Can you make smarter choices when putting a show together? Do you need that set piece or should you hire another staff member? How can you smartly use what you have now to build for more in the future?
I work with the Archbishop Alter HS Band in Kettering, Ohio (pictured above.) In 2021 they marched a show with 12 winds and were a Semi-Finalist at Bands of America Grand Nationals. This can’t happen if you focus on what you don’t have! But they created a show that was tailor made for their students and what they do well. They have amazing parental support with a motivated group who spend hours building set pieces and supporting the band. They have a talented and dedicated staff, including help from outside clinicians who they treat well and who are happy to share their time because of the atmosphere of the program. Their administration supports in many ways, and companies like Fred J Miller, Inc. help them generously and tirelessly to have a great production. The staff at Alter HS focuses on the students they DO have, what their talents are, and how they can help them thrive. (Meet the director at Alter in this interview from Grand Nationals.)
Focus on all that you DO have and you can do great things. I believe in you, and am proud to share resources at Marching Arts Education with information to help you make your goals come true. Now get busy!
Tim Hinton
July 28, 2022
