A week or so ago I returned from the Midwest Clinic, the annual gathering of music educators of instrumental music from around the world who for some insane reason decide to spend mid-December in Chicago!
At the clinic I met hundreds of people who are readers of SBO+ and got to meet many who were recognized in our “50 Music Teachers Who Make a Difference” issue. One would understand if these winners would be a bit pumped up about being recognized as the best in their state. However, just the opposite was true. I heard from many of them “there are so many great teachers better than me.” Everyone likes being told they’re doing a great job but these teachers wanted to share the spotlight with their colleagues. To have colleagues like this, how lucky are we?
While at Midwest, there were lots of occasions to see old friends and make new ones. The folks at the Conn-Selmer Division of Education had a reception in honor of my old friend Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser who, along with his team, has done (and is still doing) so much for music education. Then, an evening with the amazing composers who write for Excelcia, Wingert-Jones, RBC, and Kendor allowed me to put faces with many names I had known and admired for years. To share a profession with such talented and inspiring people, how lucky are we?
I was having dinner the other evening in an undisclosed secret location and overheard someone at the table next to me talking about being a band director. Disregarding that I might be seen as being discourteous for eavesdropping, I leaned over and interrupted him saying, “me too!” And so our dinner companions were entertained by a detailed discussion of what scores we had brought along to study, what concerts we had coming up, and friends we had in common. To have instant connections with total strangers, how lucky are we?
In a few weeks I will be attending the annual National Association of Music Merchants convention known as the NAMM Show. NAMM was established in 1901 and in the past few years has become an important advocate for music education, deploying its corporate resources on Capitol Hill as well as in statehouses around the country. The NAMM Show now features an unbelievable array of music education sessions and treat music teachers as VIPs. SBO+ will feature an article in a few months called “Best Tools for Schools” featured at the NAMM Show. To have such a variety of incredible professional development opportunities, how lucky are we?
Next week, I will start another season of music making with a wonderful adult community band. To be involved with an art form that can give joy for an entire lifetime, how lucky are we?
