audience’ s attention. Suspecting this might be a semi hostile audience I proceeded to cut the eight selections programmed to seven. Again, the host instructed the football players who were wearing their uniform jerseys,( in April)“ You guys with your IQs on your shirts want to find a seat?” By now I’ m thinking this situation is eroding quickly. Of course the members of the jazz band had this figured out before the event began. The host proceeded with“ Behind this curtain is the WHS Stage Band. You won’ t like them because they are good.” My program is now being reduced to six selections. Again he proceeds with the introduction“ They go a lot of places you haven’ t been …. across the big bridge”( Maine to N. H). Talk about a hostile audience!. We did five selections and left with the promise never to perform for the high school again. Be wary of suggestions and ideas from perhaps other veteran teachers. What may have worked for them in the past may not always be a good fit for you and your teaching style.
* The final day of school of my first year of teaching arrived and I was certainly looking forward to having a break and regroup. The next school year would bring a new start for me with my incoming seventh graders, as well as a solid rapport with my eight graders. Trying to come up with an idea to keep the kids busy on the final day I invited my local repair person to come and demonstrate to the students some basic cleaning techniques and maintenance practices for over the summer. Not realizing that on the final day of the year and temperatures in the high 80’ s the students might not be totally engaged in my guest’ s presentation. Even the repair person figured that out long before I did but politely came anyway. Of course the students were chatty and antsy and not really focused until the repair person randomly selected a trombone from the shelf to use for the demonstration. As he proceeded to run a snake through the slide, a massive blob of several years of slime and crud exited the slide and made a disgusting sound as it hit the floor in front of the students. Suddenly, the students, after being totally grossed out, were focused on every word of the demonstration from that point. I think that most of them returned in September with cleaner instruments. Not all rookie“ mistakes” may turn out to be disasters. Sometimes good things happen by accident.
There are many vignettes from my career that I could recount( and often do when several music teachers are gathering socially). They are numerous and living proof that you can survive any of your own missteps. They may seem amusing now but probably I was having difficulty seeing the humor at the moment they occurred. You will be fine it as long as you keep the students’ best interests in mind. They are why you became a teacher. Just remember,“ There are no bad bands, just bad band directors”.
Terry has taught instrumental music in Maine for 34 years having taught at all levels from beginning band to college jazz ensembles. He presently is retired from teaching concluding his career as the middle school band director at Cape Elizabeth Middle School. Terry is currently writing and arranging for all levels and is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator. He resides in Westbrook with his wife Mary Ellen.