I am a current senior a lanier high in jacktown,Ms and im conflcited i guess bcuz i truly have a passion for music (all kinds) and i want to b a band director however there r some fears thats givin me 2nd thoughts......like what if i get stuck with a schoool that has a crappy fedder pattern....or if my students just arent very talented....I need some advice asap action
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Well, That may be part of the job. I think it would be a fun challenge to go to a school that has a crappy feeders and the band is small, with students that don't know how to play. If your good, and you get the program on track, think of how much people will appreciate and respect you. After all, you can't start out driving the Ferrari without driving the Ford.
Follow your passion and be true to yourself.....trust me you don't want to end up a senior in college realizing you hate Business Marketing and all you wanna do is be a band director.....I'm currently in that situation, graduation is 3 weeks away and here i am trying to figure out how i can get a teacher certification with a marketing degree.....lol
Doesn't matter what you have feeding into your school..... Your band is only gonna be as good or as bad as you allow it to be. Plus, a band director who REALLY wants to ensure that his program is going to excel will be active in the education of all of the schools that feed in.
If you are afraid that you won't inherit a band with a good feeder program, then being a BD might NOT be for you. While a good feeder program may be benificial to the betterment of your program, it will be YOUR job as the BD to produce quality musicians...REGARDLESS of the musicians that come through you. Nobody said it would be easy anyway...you'll have to work with whatever cards you've been dealt.
Have you considered being a BD at one of those "crappy feeder programs" and turning it into a quality program?
Anyway, I think if you found your niche, then you should seek a profession in it. You are on the right track. Just rid yourself of the crazy reasons for your second thoughts....do what you love...and do it well. You'll be fine.
Heh if it has a crappy feeder make it a good one. But you gotta focus on your program first so that feeders get more kids inspired to be good thus making it a good feeder. And also stay in close relations with your feeders band and BDs so they know you and want to be part of your program.
I use to have that fear that i might be at a school that have a bad feeder school pattern but if u have the love of music in you that much, then you should be able to overcome all challenges in your music career. J.R.
Honestly, if you get stuck with a crappy feeder pattern, you can get around it. We're trying desperately to deal with it now. Our director is having trouble with it, but he's making due. I say just make sure you have a fast paced begning band course.
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Look:
If you are afraid that you won't inherit a band with a good feeder program, then being a BD might NOT be for you. While a good feeder program may be benificial to the betterment of your program, it will be YOUR job as the BD to produce quality musicians...REGARDLESS of the musicians that come through you. Nobody said it would be easy anyway...you'll have to work with whatever cards you've been dealt.
Have you considered being a BD at one of those "crappy feeder programs" and turning it into a quality program?
Anyway, I think if you found your niche, then you should seek a profession in it. You are on the right track. Just rid yourself of the crazy reasons for your second thoughts....do what you love...and do it well. You'll be fine.