Over the years, I have had the good fortune to be invited to serve as a guest conductor for numerous concert bands and jazz ensembles.  This past weekend I had the opportunity to do so again, but this was my first time with a middle school group.  I was a music educator for 40 years and have heard many stories regarding the challenges of working with middle school kids.  Lack of focus and self-discipline were the things I heard about the most.  So there I was, ready to face these students knowing I am the polar opposite of that, being extremely focused and unquestionably self-disciplined.

As anyone in the band world knows, these honor band weekends are long, intense, and exhausting.  The kids were great.  They were attentive and open to all that I asked of them.  At the end of the event, I received a very nice note from the host director expressing, among other things, that she was impressed with my “command” of the rehearsal process.  For me, that was high praise because there was a time in my career where I worked from a position of “demanding”.  When I learned to command student attentiveness, focus, and respect, the art of teaching became dramatically easier.  Not to mention the benefits to my students.

Today, no every day, I encourage you to consider whether you are working from a position of demanding or commanding.  Experience has taught me that while demanding can work, it is not a sustainable approach.  When I learned to present myself in a way that commanded the respect of others, the response from my student’s, and their resultant growth, were both easier and more sustainable.  Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Coach

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education