Notes from the Cougar Band Room

It has been a year, to say the least. The past year has provided many different thoughts, experiences, and ideas along the way; so much so, that the idea of sitting down to write about any one of them is overwhelming. But when I was recently asked to write a piece for musicians looking to enter the field of music education, one topic came to the forefront of my consciousness. One of the greatest lessons I've learned in my time in education so far is the difference between "can't" and "won't":  "Won't" is when a student makes a choice to not participate in their learning. They may be consciously avoiding it or unconsciously distracted, but ultimately, they are disengaged for reasons within their own control.  "Can't" is when there is a roadblock in the way preventing students from engaging in the learning process. These are students who have larger struggles, out of their control, preventing them from effectively engaging in le...

Ah, festival time. It comes around every year right in that time when winter won't go away and spring can't quite come fast enough. The annual rite of musical passage when band directors and ensembles across the land have that last big push for some of our most significant performances of the year. I'm not sure whether it's the significance of festival, the demand of the schedule, using that last molecule of energy to get out of bed, or needing more hours in the day, but I find this time of year to be really tough. Energy is scarce yet demand is high. In the name of self-preservation and self-care, I also find it vitally important to take some of our  precious minutes to reaffirm our work. Reconnecting with universal truths along with reminding ourselves why we are here & what we need to do to push through is really helpful in keeping our momentum and ultimately, keep moving forward. Here are some of the points and discussions we have made in class that have b...

My daughter and I took this picture right after getting home from her first band festival a few years ago. Great performances and great smiles all around! A blissfully captured moment of when both my Mommy and Band Director hats were worn securely. It's not easy wearing both of those hats all the time though-- It's a LOT of hard work, but it's a balancing act that gives me the privilege of pursuing my best life. My love for teaching and making music feeds my soul and helps me to be a better Mom. Spending time at home with my family gives me the life I need to be a better director. The love of both feeds the other and ultimately, myself. Abba knows how it works... This summer, and this past week in particular, has been one of those more difficult times. TL;DR: I had to miss my first band camp as a director because I am 37 weeks pregnant and we are expecting our second daughter any day. The longer story... Mom Hat: Starting our family has been a long, com...

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of presenting and participating in the Michigan Music Conference. Going to Grand Rapids and connecting with others at MMC is always a welcomed reprieve amidst midterms, grading, and shifting gears from Solo & Ensemble back into Festival season. In spite of the packed schedules and sometimes rushed conversations between friends on their way to various sessions, I'm always amazed at how rejuvenated I am to get back into teaching afterwards. This year's conference did not disappoint- loads of great concerts and sessions to provide food for thought as we look ahead to the second half of the school year. I also had the honor to participate in this year's Conductor's Symposium, which was a wonderfully humbling learning experience. (And having the chance to conduct the Western Michigan University Wind Symphony felt a bit like driving a Porsche!) Some of the best, most concentrated 10 minutes of PD I have ever received. Totally worth the ne...