Leave No Musician Behind

by Ben Fritz

Early in my career I had the pleasure of team teaching with a master educator named Paul. He was one of those “old school” band directors who liked his coffee black, knew how to fix every instrument (and the copy machine), and preferred to go to the gym in the morning before class. Paul showed up to work every single day with a great attitude about reaching and teaching every single kid in his program, regardless of their ability, attitude, financial status or even their behavior.

Paul is just one example of the many “champion” music teachers in our schools. Over his 30 year career, he taught every student, good or bad, with tremendous enthusiasm and passion. As I adjudicate ensembles for Music in the Parks and Festivals of Music, I have the pleasure of meeting some of these master educators and hearing their ensembles perform. These programs are truly the “best of the best” when it comes to music education. Below are some of the consistencies among superb programs:

• Leave No Musician Behind . The great programs work to teach every child. “Kickout” programs, where ensembles are created merely by removing the weaker musicians may garner occasional high ratings, but inevitably develop missing instrumentation or a lack of depth.
• Teach All The Ensembles With Tremendous Enthusiasm . The great ensemble directors often earn higher ratings with their second band or orchestra than with their “top gun” group. Their passion for teaching comes through at all levels.
• Musical Facility Is Only One Measure Of  Someone’s Love For Music . Some of our nation’s greatest school music programs are lead by musicians that were not first chair in their playing days. The ability to play or sing is only one measure of a child’s passion for music. The great programs stimulate children in a variety of ways.
• Resources, Principals, and Curriculum May Come & Go, But The Program Rolls On . The great programs have a winning short term philosophy and a five or even 10 year plan for growth and excellence. Long range planning helps guide these directors through challenges that could derail other programs.
• Celebrate Your Long Term Musicians . How many of your students continue making music? Do they continue in High School? College? Adult Life? The programs that are the “best of the best” celebrate their long term musicians with plaques, banners, and names on a “Wall of Fame”.

Ratings at music festival are an important measure of the quality an ensemble’s performance, but often the most important aspect of an adjudicated event isn’t listed on the adjudication sheet. The item that pervades all the other categories from tone to intonation to style is unity. The intangible knowledge that each child is part of something that exceeds his or her own individual contribution creates an energy in performance that generates the highest level of musicianship. Congratulations and “Thank You” to all those directors who achieve such excellence. I hope to hear your ensembles in the spring.

Ben Fritz, Director of Bands, The George Washington University

© Copyright 2005 Educational Programs Network. All rights reserved.