Who Said This!

"Music and the arts are not extraneous, extra-curricular, or expendable - I believe they are essential. I want to provide every child these "Weapons of Mass Instruction."

I want to provide our children what I call the "Weapons of Mass Instruction" - art and music - the secret, effective weapons that will help us to be competitive and creative. It is crucial that children flex both the left and right sides of the brain. We all know the cliché of thinking outside the box: I want our children to be so creative that they think outside the cardboard factory. Art and music are as important as math and science because the dreamers and visionaries among us take the rough straw of an idea and spin it into the gold of new businesses and jobs. It is as important to identify and encourage children with artistic talent as it is those with athletic ability. Our future economy depends on a creative generation.

Music has always been an important part of my life. I still play bass guitar in my band, Capitol Offense.

As Governor of Arkansas, I undertook several initiatives to encourage arts in education. I passed landmark legislation to provide music and art instruction by certified teachers for all Arkansas children in grades one through six, forty minutes a week. As Chairman of the Education and Arts Commission of the States, I created a two-year initiative called "The Arts - A Lifetime of Learning," which promotes the benefits of arts education to all fifty states.

Students with strong art and music programs have higher academic achievement overall, are far more likely to read for pleasure and participate in community service, and are less likely to engage in delinquent behavior. These programs have a powerful effect in leveling the academic playing field for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The study of music improves math scores, spatial reasoning and abstract thinking."

Visit Numbers Keep Dropping

I find it interesting that the visits to my blog seem to really get slim this time of year. Most people are concerned about marching band but really don't seem to have any idea what it is that we really do. I was interviewed by a 9th grade student today about my career and one of the questions was "What do you think is the most important aspect of your job?" My answer was simple and unrehearsed. "The most important aspect of my job is too teach students how to play and appreciate music." What else is there? Everything I do at work should revolved around that. Marching band is just one part of our band program and it is actually a small part of the music that I create. Lately I have been working on some music for me. Will I make money off of it? Maybe? I really don't care. I do it for me. I arrange some and I write some originals too. I practice and I listen. I try to set an example to my students not because I hope they will see me and imitate but because music is who I am and have been for a very long time. I do it not for money or recognition. I do it for the same reasons I breath and eat. I have too. It keeps me going.

Rain?

It seems like forever since it has rained. It is nice to see it and especially hear it today. I hope that more will follow in the coming weeks. Not only does my yard love it but my fish in the lake do too. Most people don't know it but I have a special deal with the fish in the lake. Just ask anybody that has went fishing with me. Any way, Monday is over for at least a week.

The Days I Dreamed Of...

Today was one of those. I really don't know why today was so good but I am really happy with my life today here are a few reasons:
1. I got up at 5:30 a.m. and Cindy was already up! Now that is not normal.
2. I picked up all the leaves in the yard.
3. Cindy came home early.
4. It is a cold dreary day.
5. We have the fireplace going.
6. We are watching movies together.
7. The Boyz seem happy too.
8. I don't know why I am posting this but...

I am just having a happy Brady day! I hope everybody else is having their day too!

Things to be Thankful for

1. I am thankful for my home and family.

2. I am thankful that I have a job that I enjoy doing (almost all of the time!)

3. I am thankful to have good friends.

What are you thankful for?

Nice Day on the Water

I had a very nice day on the water today with a good friend. I am glad we got to go today. It was one of those days that just makes you happy. Thanks Pat. I hope all of you have a great Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Break

There are sometimes it pays to be a teacher. I have five days in row off! Now that is pretty cool. I am going fishing tomorrow with a good friend I haven't seen in a while. I am pretty excited. I hope we catch some but it really won't matter if we don't. It will be great to just to catch up on things. Then I will begin some of the preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. We have a turkey to thaw. I hope the weather forecast holds true and we get some rain.

Quality vs. Quanity

This is an interview question I have heard every time: "How will you get the numbers up in the band program?" My reply: "Why do you have number problems in your band program?" How do you build numbers in a band program? There are few ways. You can make it "fun" and then go get every warm body you can find and fill them up with what ever they want to hear. You can do a pretty easy show and only require the the really good players to play the hard parts. The rest of the members can pretty much hang out and not really have to worry about practicing because their parts will be watered down. What about concert band? Not to worry here either. Just play lots of easy stuff. About grade 3 is all people will really need at the concerts anyway. What about region/all-state band? Not to worry here at all. Only a few students will really care about this so don't push it. It will just take away time from stuff anyway. This band will be large and nobody will have to work real hard...until that smaller band with all the kids that can really play and march comes into competition with you. Then you may be in trouble. What is a better way to build numbers in a band program? Establish high standards that are followed by high expectations. Make each student accountable. This is the way to get the right numbers in a band. What will happen? The students that are just in band as a social activity will find their way out. They will not be able to handle the responsibility or the individual work that is required. They will simply go away. What about the other students? They will be alert enough to realize that the band program is a worthwhile activity and will actually appreciate the fact that the band is something to be proud to be a member. Unfortunately not all schools are able to understand or may not have student numbers to sustain the second type of band program. I do know I would rather have a smaller band in which everybody works for the same goal. There are no complaints about practicing but rather complaints that we don't have more time together in which to hone our art. Is this a realistic goal? Why not! It happens in hundreds of band rooms everyday throughout the country. It is not easy but the rewards don't need to be recognized by trophies. Can you have a large band program that is based on high standards and individual responsibility? Sure, but you better have a great base on which to build this or it will surely crumble in the end. So why do I require the students to sit up straight? Why do I require instruments to go home every night? Why do I teach to the top of the class? Why do I point out individuals that are not doing what it takes to reach out goals? Why!!!! I will tell you. It is because far to often in schools the students that do everything they should are not given enough credit. It is not fair to the student that drags a baritone saxophone home to practice to have to play in a band that has others that hide a small instrument in a locker. It is not fair to the all-state tuba player to have to play grade 3 music with no real parts in it because the other sections can't play grade 5 music. It is not fair to the student that wishes to be challenged and pushed to be in a mediocre group just because it is easier for most to do that. What is easy is seldom worth it in the end. What is difficult to accomplish seldom needs trophies and ribbons in which to reward.

Fishing Report

I went out two times this weekend. The fish have moved up the lake. I am sure you can still get a few in the lower lake but most have moved up to around Dreher Island. They are not very hungry though. I consistently marked fish up lake but they just would not eat. I did catch a few, just not like I usually do. That is what marching band season will do. I would try about 40 feet down in the forks before Dreher Island. I guess fishing wouldn't be that much fun if you caught the limit every time. Remember if things are easy for you every time you try them, they are probably not worth doing.

The Copyright Police

Question: "Why can't I just have a copy of that?"

Answer: Why? Because it is against the law! This is difficult for some people to understand. You can just freely copy most printed sheet music.

Question: "But what about the marching band show? You make hundreds of copies of that stuff. "

Answer: The reason is because we actually own the copyright to the show for one year. That allows us to make as many copies as we need. Didn't you ever wonder why all the copies mysteriously disappear after the season is over.

Question: "We have copies of our concert music. Is that illegal. If it is I am going to turn Mr. Brady in. We need to get him!"

Answer: Yes, it is legal to make one copy for educational purposes but you must have an original to back up each copy. You can not just make copies to avoid buying extra parts.

Question: "This is stupid. Why can't we just do it anyway?"

Answer: Besides being illegal, it is immoral too! How can we expect composers to write new music if all of their older music is being given away. The copying of music is detrimental to the creation of new music. This is the biggest reason to not copy printed music or download illegal copies of music. We played a wonderful new piece of music in class today. I don't know if the composer would have even considered writing this piece if he thought it would just be given away.

Question: "Did you know most modern composers allow legal downloads of their music? Why?"

Answer: They want you hear their music and pass it along. They only make money if their music is good enough for you or your directors to want to buy it.

The point of all of this...Don't copy music just to avoid buying it. Most of it is cheap and the pieces that are not cheap are usually well worth it.

Smashing Pumpkins

Last night we went to see the Smashing Pumpkins at Township Auditorium and it was great. They played for about 2 and half hours. They not only played their new stuff but also just about all of their older songs too. They even did a few covers. I knew if would be good but it was even better than I could have thought. I had never been in Township before and I sure hope more bands will start to play there. It is nice to be so close to the show. Smashing Pumpkins and freak throwing! What a combo!

Tuesday was...Well it was Tuesday

I have been teaching a lot lately and I really like it. Some of the students may not but I do. That is what it is really about. What are the students learning? Some may learn while others do not but I think some are getting it. How do you get a higher placement at state? You make your entire band program better. There is some interesting news though. The winds class was interupted 4 times today by outsiders at the door. That is a new record! Maybe tomorrow it can be even more!

Making a Stand

Yesterday at school there was a presenter about the situation in Darfar. You can do a search for more information about his cause. He was a great presenter and I learned a lot. My honest thoughts on his cause are that there are things that need to be accomplished right here in the USA but that is just my opinion. What this post is about is make at stand for what you believe in. So many people go through life just going with the flow and don't really know what they stand for or may stand for something and are not able to speak intelligently about it. So my suggestion is to stand for something. It should be important to you and don't worry, you can always change you mind about things too. Just be able to defend you choices.

I have many things that I believe in and will make stands for but there are two of them I most passionate about.

Government support for the Arts in public Schools: I feel it is the governments responsibility to advocate and support the arts in public schools at the local, state, and federal levels. There is much talk about the need for better education in math and science to develop students that are able to lead and create in the future. The operative word here is "create". Creativity and adaptation will be the keys to the future. What better way to encourage both than by supporting and encouraging the Arts?

Environmental Protection: I believe there should be more emphasis placed on protecting the environment and the Earth's natural resources and beauties. I think the U.S. should lead the way in this cause world wide not just at home. There will be no more Grand Canyons, giant redwoods, or wonderful fish of the world if we don't take care of them.

To Blog or Not to Blog

I hear on talk radio about blogs sometimes. People saying why would anybody blog? "Nobody cares about what you think? " " People that blog have way too much time?" "Who has that much time?" The truth is that I spend very little time blogging. I do spend a great deal of time thinking though. So the blog is just an extention of my thoughts of the day. I really don't care if anybody reads it or not. It is basicly just the thoughts and rants of a tuba player born in Key West and brought up in Goose Creek. So I blog about what happens to catch my attention that day. Nothing more is meant and not less should be expected. One of my best friends blogs too. He got me into it. Here is a link to his: http://www.cityofwoodruff.blogspot.com/ . He does about the samething I do. Just blogs to get what he has to say out there. So who care what I have to say? I guess I do. Sometimes that is enough.