For the band directors out there...

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:11 pm

I am about to begin my student teaching in the fall. My education professors have told me that my playing days will basically be over once I start teaching. I don't think I could ever stop playing. I love it too much. I know of opportunities like local quintets and community bands, but they told me to even stay away from those. I would be too busy with afterschool practices, fundraisers, and booster meetings. If it means staying away from high school jobs and sticking to middle school or elementary school, that's the direction I'll go. I just can't see myself being an effective teacher of music if I don't practice it myself.

What's your opinion/experience?

Phil Dawson · Post by **Phil Dawson** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:20 pm

Always remember that it's only a job. All be it an important one. They don't own you. It is important to model the importance of playing throughout your life to your students. Please do not give up playing. I also own a 1290 and love it. How do you like yours?
Good Luck, Phil

r smith · Post by **r smith** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:15 pm

Good advice from Phil. If you enjoy playing that much find a group or 2 and work it into your schedule. There may be some clashes but I am sure you can work it out.

Rommel72 · Post by **Rommel72** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:28 pm

I think all band directors should find time to still play their instruments. I personally have always had more respect for the ones that continued to play their instrument even while they were teaching. After all that is why they got into music in the first place. Just my 2 cents.

Alex C · Post by **Alex C** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:37 pm

I think there are examples of people who have taught and continued a professional playing career. Most notable, in my mind, is Tommy Johnson. He was a band director (middle school?) for over 20 years while maintaining the most rigorous recording schedule imaginable. Where did he get the time?

David Holsinger, maintained a career as an active band director and church musician while continuing to compose. Where did he get the time?

You just have to find the time.

I don't know what your "professors" are doing. As a teacher, I never try to discourage a student from anything in their career, playing, composing or teaching. Performing certainly adds to anything you do as a teacher. That was discouraging to read.

You never know where success will come from. Just keep playing while you teach, that's the best advice.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 9:53 pm

If you are planning on being a HS BD it will be tough doing a lot of extra playing, especially if you have a wife and family. As you mentioned MS and Elementary gigs do not usually have the extra curricular responsibilities associated with them. I am an elementary school BD and I do assist with the HS marching band in the summer and fall. This allows me more time to play professionally. I too believe I could never ggive up my playing professionally and that I am a better teacher with that experience.

ken k

Gorilla Tuba · Post by **Gorilla Tuba** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:05 pm

It is true that it can be difficult to balance a successful teaching career, family life, and still have time to perform and nurture your artistic needs. However, you really can and should find a way to include performing in your balanced life.

On the college level, you are judged (for tenure and promotion) on: 1. Teaching, 2. Scholarly and Creative activity, and 3. service. Professors who do not balance all three struggle with getting tenure. The best teachers still need to be actively doing research... in music this is often done by preparing and performing music.

Even if performing is not part of your career, I submit that it is essential to why you are becoming a music educator. I can't imaging putting up with the crap involved with being a music teacher if you don't simply love music. Performing on my instrument help keep me centered and helps me keep perspective on why I entered a career in music education.

In short, the professors who advised you to give up playing are just plain wrong.

Will · Post by **Will** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:19 pm

How can I expect my students to practice and perform musically if I can't do it myself? They don't tell you to quit playing, just reduce it down to a hobby. I just don't want to become one of those BDs who pulls his axe out of the closet once a month or so. Thanks for everyone's input.

Will

Pippen · Post by **Pippen** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:28 pm

I'm not a band director but I am a former high school teacher and I do have a family. The brutal reality was that there were periods when each of those factors individually squeezed all of the "optionals" out of my life for one reason or another.

If you want to continue making playing a priority then you will need to find a position with that in mind, not only looking at the level but the specifics of the situation. Our district cut the music staff by one third last year due to budget cuts and it's the elementary music teachers that were hardest hit. Some of them visit 14 schools during the course of a week and they don't have a much in the way of energy left over for anything.

MikeMason · Post by **MikeMason** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:30 pm

People tend to have time,energy, and money for the things they value most. I have had times when i didn't play much for long stretches. They were dark times and i won't do it again...

bigboom · Post by **bigboom** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:33 am

There are a lot of people I know of that do a lot of music related stuff outside of their Band directing career. I know the guy that wrote the drill for my school a few years ago is a band director and he is also the drill and marching tech for the Santa Clara Vanguard. My band director likes to come and sit in at set during Jazz band once a week or so. There is a band director in the comunity band I am in, although I am sure you have thought about that option. I just think that you shouldn't have to give up your life to be a band director, it will surely require sacrifices but not take over. You never know, you might love doing it so much that playing will take a backseat. just my two cents

Ben

Steve Oberheu · Post by **Steve Oberheu** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 12:00 pm

Hey Will!

Having been a victi...errr....student, myself, of the same education professors you're dealing with....all I'm going to say is, don't believe the hype! I've been through the same program as you...here's your chance to not make the mistakes I did.

First off....you're only student teaching in the fall. This is not your full-time, make-or-break, must-support-wife-and-kids-with-whatever-little-income type job...it's just student teaching. Your professors will talk it up and make it seem waaay bigger than it is (trust me...I know this!). I seem to remember one of them in particular (I refuse to name names) maintained that we would have no time to ourselves outside of student-teaching and he really liked to make anything even remotely related to him (ie-not our playing!) more important than everything else. A bunch of people that you and I know have been able to still practice AND perform during their student-teaching semesters. Don't put unnecessary pressure on yourself over this semester....it's easier than it sounds. Yes, you DO need to do the preparation and be able to teach the kids. With some effective management on your part, you'll be able to do what you want just fine.

Actually, I'm going to drop you an e-mail with more specific info that shouldn't be up here. But, I will concur with others that have stated....it CAN be done! Guys like Tommy Johnson and Doug Yeo were full-time band directors before (in Tommy's case, even during!) their first full-time playing gigs....they still found chances to play.

A well-placed source (Kos) tells me you sounded good at your recital. Keep going for it! You've got talent and a good work ethic. Your playing days are far from over, as long as you want it to be that way.

Steve

Stefan · Post by **Stefan** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 4:55 pm

You can do anything that you make a priority in your life. Time is not the issue. Sure, there will be times when you just don't have time - no matter which level you teach. But generally, if you want to play then you will make the time. I believe, much to the disagreement of some colleagues, that band/orchestra teachers who play their instrument and have always taken it seriously are usually excellent teachers. Of course, that is not always the case

Are you sure your teachers were not talking specifically about student teaching? My teachers gave me the same song and dance - but it was regarding while I was student teaching. I played when I student taught, but it depends on how much work your cooperating teacher puts you through. Mine was fairly light.

Bill Troiano · Post by **Bill Troiano** » Wed Apr 13, 2005 6:42 pm

I was a musician and tubist long before I became a teacher. I went into teaching as a result of my love for music and playing the tuba, not the other way around. I couldn't imagine life as a music teacher without playing. Although I never was a HS band director, I'm pretty involved in a middle school band program, as a local guest conductor, as a private tuba teacher, and I still keep busy as a tubist. I have a family with 3 kids and plenty to do, but I couldn't imagine not playing. There are plenty of successful HS band directors around that run fine programs. But, the best of them, whom I know, are all active performing musicians. I think you should try your best to make it work. Keep playing!!