I’ve been thinking a lot about the journeys each of us take in life and how the choices, the influences and influencers, and the “stuff happens” events along the way can alter that journey in positive (hopefully!) and sometimes negative ways.
It’s possible these reflections are because I just passed one of those birthday milestones where it’s painfully obvious there’s more in the “rear view mirror” than there is up ahead. But it’s also because through SBO+ Magazine, my work with a community band with LOTS of young people in its membership, involvement with the Colorado Bandmasters Association and other organizations like the Music Teacher Guild, and with substitute teaching, that I’m far from retired and am more involved than ever in helping, mentoring, and cheering on the next generations of musicians and music educators.
The perspective of still being actively involved in the music education and performance worlds while having decades of lessons learned, and after observing musical giants like Harry Begian, Tony Maiello, and many others who still made/make incredible music into their “golden years,” I offer a few lessons learned for our readers. Note: I didn’t always follow this advice, meaning those were very hard lessons learned!
– Don’t ignore your health. An hour of exercise is worth more than an hour of extra work in the long run. And it’s worth WAY more than an hour spent looking at your phone. Successful music educators and performers tend to be fitness fanatics and are rarely smokers or heavy drinkers.
– Never stop learning. If you’re asked what the last book was that you read and you can’t answer, that’s a problem. Bubbett’s Bookshelf is a great way to keep up on good reads. A few years ago, I was attending the Conn-Selmer Institute (put CSI on your bucket list, BTW) and Larry Livingston was giving a conducting lecture to a roomful of young teachers and…. me. Before the class, Larry pulled me aside and asked me what I was doing there and I answered, “to learn.” It just so happens that Larry showed a conducting technique that immediately fixed some things I had done wrong for years!
– Don’t let your supposed shortcomings discourage you or keep you from trying to fix them. Most school music teachers had only 3-6 hours of conducting instruction in college; usually without a live ensemble. That means you are a beginner and are now where your beginning students are at the end of September of their first year. Too many teachers, aware of how unprepared they are to conduct their ensembles, shy away from conducting workshops and lessons. That’s understandable, because way too many of those workshops are geared to their D.M.A. and graduate students, not the middle school director who needs help with prepping, fermatas, tempo changes, and hand independence. Find a colleague who’s better than you and ask them for lessons. Try the many mentorship programs already in place or through the Music Teacher Guild and take some one-on-one or group lessons geared to your needs.
– Keep your mind and heart open to new opportunities. My career went nothing like I had planned. It’s okay to just walk through doors that are open for you even if they’re not in your plan.
– Do your very best at every job, even if it’s a job others think is not a good one. If you do that, people will notice, and they will take care of you. Along those lines, don’t be a “ticket puncher.” Musicians, students, and colleagues can instantly tell if you’re doing a job simply to get the next job or if you’re not truly dedicated to where you’re working now.
Finally, don’t be afraid (or embarrassed) to be passionate! Let your excitement, joy, and zeal show and your students, colleagues, and bosses will be inspired by it, and you will find yourself enjoying the good times more and able to power through the bad times.
