Working for Norwin. I’ve been talking about my college experience. I wanted to be a marching band director. That’s what drove me to college and that is why I was fighting my way through classes that confounded me.
A practicum was required for one of my classes. I needed to observe a music program alongside of an educator. I idolized my high school director, LJ Hancock, so I knew that I would ask him if I could shadow him during summer rehearsals of the Norwin Band.
LJ graciously accepted my request and I began attending rehearsals.
Be consistent
LJ respected consistency. He told me that he didn’t have any specific assignment for me, but if I consistently showed up to rehearsals, he’d find something for me to do.
That was easy for me.
I was observing a rehearsal when LJ called me over. “Take these three flute players and teach them how to play mellophone.”
That’s pretty much how my educational career started.
Dive in
There was one big problem… I didn’t know how to play the mellophone. I was a trumpet and euphonium player. Brass techniques class would eventually teach me what I needed to know about french horn (mellophone is a version of french horn for marching band). But brass techniques class was still in my future.
I knew that LJ was testing me. If I said that I didn’t know what I was doing, he would probably not ask me to do anything again. And, if I fouled up this assignment he would probably not ask me to do anything else.
So, I said, “ok” and took the three girls with me to the band room. I wish I could remember the details. Somehow I stumbled upon the fact that the mellophone fingerings were pretty much the same as trumpet. The bigger problem was getting them on the correct pitch. It’s not the same as trumpet. (That would be a future music arranging class.)
The girls figured it out. They were very bright and talented. And I passed my first test. (I have since learned that flute players make great brass players.)
An opening
LJ had a large staff with a variety of people. Some of the staff was made up of previous students who were eager to continue to make the band great. Others were music education students from local colleges who were there until they could get a full-time job.
One of our staff members got a job and I had an opening.
LJ called me into his office and told me that the baritones needed someone to work with them. And, just like that, I became the baritone instructor!
Success
The baritones had an important line in the closer. And they were fouling it up. LJ looked at me and said, “Go work with them.” (In other words, FIX THEM!)
I went to work. We played the music, we sang, we buzzed mouthpieces, we repeated and repeated some more.
When we came back to the rehearsal circle I stood behind them as they came to the section of the music that they had been playing poorly… They nailed it.
LJ shot his head my direction and said, “Did you do that?!”. I just shrugged. Who else would have done it? It was nice to see his surprise and gratifying that I could get the job done.
Temper temper
My work as the baritone instructor exposed what I’ll call my, “educator’s temper”. I get intense and want things done right… immediately! The problem was and is that not all of the students feel the same way. Some are just having fun.
I was working with the baritones one day and one of the students was goofing around. He was a talented player but he just wasn’t committed to making a top-notch product. I could feel my anger growing.
And then.. Vesuvius blew! I had never heard myself yell that loud in my life. I left rehearsal that day certain that LJ would find out and that I would be dismissed.
When I got home I talked to my Dad about it. I felt that this explosion was a sign that I shouldn’t be a director. I obviously had a rage problem and shouldn’t be around kids. Dad disagreed.
I came to the next rehearsal with my head held low. When would I get dismissed? Will the student’s parents be there?
And… nothing happened. Well, there was one thing. The kid that I yelled at became my puppy dog. He followed me around and asked what he could do for me. It was weird.
I’m not condoning losing your temper. It still happens and I hate it every time it occurs. But, I’m always praying and working to get better. I JUST WANT THINGS DONE PROPERLY!
Summer’s over
It was always difficult going back to college and leaving the baritones. I would have loved to follow Norwin through a season as a staff member. I know I could have learned a great deal. But, college was the priority. Dad helped me to remember that as well.
A few final thoughts.
LJ gave me a check at the end of the summer. I was elated! He looked at me and said, “It’s not that much.”. (Basically, calm down kid.) But, how could I calm down? I had gotten paid for doing something I passionately loved. Yes, if I broke down the amount into an hourly rate, it would be less than a dollar an hour. But, I didn’t care!
A word about my Dad and Norwin Band. When I graduated from Norwin, Dad said that I could not go back to rehearsals unless I was working with the group. “You’re not going to be like those kids who hang around on the sidelines during rehearsal.” Dad was right. I could have easily become someone hanging around and that might have made LJ look at me more like a groupie and less like a future educator.
Thanks LJ. And, thanks Dad.