When a director was asked about what he would say to a new band director he shared the following:  We all know that you don’t know….and its okay!  He went on to share something that I found to be true when I was a beginning teacher.  We come out of school having a great deal of musical skill and knowledge, but we don’t know anything about the art of teaching.  It will take several years of experience and LOTS of mistakes before you begin to feel like you are standing on solid ground.

This not just an important lesson for beginning teachers.  It is a valuable lesson for all of our students.  Being successful as musicians and as a band requires experience and mistakes….lots and lots of mistakes.  More importantly they need to know that you know, that they don’t know, and it is okay.  Too often we become fixated on the performance piece and forget that it is all about learning and growth and that is NOT okay!

Today, no every day, I encourage you to share this important lesson with your students.  When they come into our programs, we know what they don’t know and it is our jobs to help them learn and grow into the incredible young people we know they can be.  Yes, of course, we would like to have great ensembles.  When we are able to help them transition from not knowing….to knowing….the natural consequence IS great ensembles.  Just sayin’!

Make Today a Magnificent Day!

Gary L Rupert

Culture Strategist/Mentor

II:Leaders Creating:II Leaders

LCL Mentors @ Marching Arts Education