About it all...yesterday that is.
Yesterday was a regression for the band in many ways in my eyes. We have been working hard and well together (I thought so anyway) but much reverted back to old ways yesterday. For one thing we had many holes in the show. There were some things out of anybodys control and some students made poor choices that will affect their future in the band. Unfortunately the poor choices of individuals sometimes hurt others but then that is the way the real world is at times. When you have numerous holes (hole are missing members in the drill) is affects everything. With regards to visual execution, it makes having good intervals almost impossible and takes away from the flow and continuity of the forms. This affect visual effect. Musically is leaves spaces in the sound and that affects musical effect. So it is perhaps the things that can take away from the entire show more than just about anything. Mostly this shows a lack of commitment from a few that affects all. Our performance was greatly hampered by these things and perhaps we should have not went to the competition at all but I think that not showing up is worse than a poor performance in the long run.
Some of the older students chose to do things the old way and that is disrespectful to me and what I am trying to accomplish at Dutch Fork. I was even mocked by some of them. Nothing new for me though but still disappointing and hurtful. During my first year in any of my positions, there have been plenty of non believers. They go away quickly and are not a factor after my first year. This will be the case again. I really appreciate some of my former students coming to see the band yesterday even though I taught them in a different band. This means a lot to me.
The greatest challenge at Dutch Fork is the change of mindsets and the norms. This includes all parents, students, and supporters. The band has a very different look and sound now but this will be nothing compared to the future under my direction. Serious philosophy changes will occur. Some will leave because of them and many will stay but change will happen.
Yesterday is over and leaves many questions for the remainder of the season but I still feel that things are in place to develop an incredible band program at Dutch Fork but this process with be difficult for all involved as are all things worthwhile are. There is a great core group of students and parents that are "getting it". They will be where the true changes will start. Others will come though. Some of the older students and parents will join to help and be a part for many years to follow, while others certainly will not. This is the way things work.
The Dutch Fork band has enjoyed successes in the past with out me and certainly may enjoy them in the future with out me as well. Many of the band programs I have helped progress still enjoy great success because of the work we did together but I would really like to be at Dutch Fork for a long time but when you make a choice to attempt to become the elite, you of course run the risk of being pushed out. I am willing to take that risk because in the end, should it all come together, it will be worth it.
To leave things the same is to leave things to chance or at best to accept what is given to you. To change and adapt is to at give yourself a chance at greatness. I have seen the glimpses of greatness at Dutch Fork. Now is time to put all the pieces in place to change and find our own style and image. Then we won't have to worry about what competition we go too or who the judges are or who we are in competition with because then we will playing the game by our rules not theirs.
I have the faith and trust that enough people are together in this to make it work. Just give me a chance to prove it but either way at least I won't count myself "with the cold and timid souls".
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."
posted by Jon Brady at 8:49 AM
16 Comments:
I am not sure how you had the energy for this post after yesterday, but BRAVO!! I do not think you should put up with any disrespect; it does a great disservice to you and to the students being disrespectful. You have certainly earned my respect and I believe in the Dutch Fork Band.
I agree. There are too many students and parents that dedicate their time and efforts because we believe in YOU and what you are doing with the band. Those who show you disrespect, should not be tolerated. They are given a grade for band, right?? They need to learn that they will not always like the way things go in the world, or get "Their way", but this is part of life. If they are not happy with their "choices" then they may need to rethink their path. The majority of us are in this for the long hall, change and all. We LOVE what you have done and are doing with the band!! Keep it up!!
I have seen a big difference and improvement this year. I also saw the faces of those kids who work really hard and are trying to get the new groove on, at 11:30 pm when you failed to acknowledge what they are doing. Please don't lump them all together, it breaks the spirit!
Hey, percussion won 2 weeks in a row, isn't that worth a mention?
oh, how hard change is. no matter what the situation...becoming a freshman in a new school, assuming a new work position, or even joining a new club like marching band...change is something that takes dedication, perseverance, and most importantly, love.
i don't know a lot about you, and i don't know a lot about band this year, but i do know a lot about the "old" dutch fork band. disrespectful older students are inexcusable, but if some kids seem resistant to change, it's because maybe our band's been trained to be resistant. some older kids have seen 4 different assistant band directors and 2 different band directors, all with different ideologies and methods of creating the best for dutch fork, within their entire marching band experience.
my last few years of band were hard, but so memorable. i understand how difficult it is to encourage others to benefit from the fruits of discipline, but your efforts are not futile! and as a former band captain, what i value most isn't the picture of trophies in the band room that now lies in the back of my closet, it's the picture of my friends at state from last year that now sits beside my laptop at school.
band is about respecting music and discipline, certainly. but it's also about something so much more powerful than that, it's about building, developing, and honoring relationships. i was always taught that our "band family" mirrors how the real world works, and i agree that building, developing, and honoring relationships is the most important element of anyone's life.
again, change is hard, but it will happen. as much as it happens through your blogs, your classes, your after school practices, it also happens through the love you emit through everything you do. we all know you are doing great things for the dutch fork band, and we are proud of your warrior spirit. thank you for all that you do, and all that you continue to do, to honor the legacy of the silver spirit band.
good luck to you and the entire band, and best wishes for a beautiful, memorable season. :-)
by the way...your roosevelt quote...awesome! so inspiring to all :-).
I do not know you. You do not know me. I must admit though that some of the statements that you have made in this blog about the band prior to you I have found insulting. I certainly understand that you are the new director and that you may indeed have a new direction that you would like to take the Silver Spirit Band in. I do not feel however, that means you need to take jabs at the band before you. I had two students go through the program. I give the program, as it was then, credit for making many positive changes in their lives. I wish you lots of luck, but wish you could find a way to feel success minus the less than complimentary comments on the Silver Spirit Band of old.
with all due respect, a band director has the right to a blog. and a blog is just that, a blog. it is not a means of critisism, let him write what he wants on his personal blog please. if you don't like it, fine, don't read it. i like to read its content. so let me decide for myself how to reflect on it without your negative comments on his blog.
Though I leave this comment anonymous I feel that everything you said was absolutely correct. In the begining you told us that if we didn't listen then we wouldn't accomplish our goals. You told us from the beginning that if we couldn't handle the pressure then we should go to guidance and drop. Saturday was a total joke and I recognize that it was not our best. You expect more from us and I personally did too. Though I am highly upset and was working through tears to type this I could not agree more. State is so close and we've worked too hard and come too far to give up now. WE CAN DO THIS GUYS! All we have to do is trust Mr. Brady and do what he tells us no questions asked.
Here here Kevin....I think you hit the nail on the head. You are right....Its Mr. Brady's blog. And its his blog to write. If you find it insulting, then don't log in. You do not have to read it. It has always amazed me how others will interpret the things he writes into what they think it should mean. And alot of the time their interpretations are terribly negative. Well, for those who do this......shame on you. I can assure you - as the man's wife - he is not insulting the Dutch Fork band of old. If anything he wants everyone to know that he is feeling the pangs of change himself. Maybe some should step into his shoes and see how badly he wants this program to succeed. And how much time and effort he puts into the band outside of his normal "working" hours. And the fact that he judges himself more harshly than anyone reading the blog ever will. He respects these kids, this program, and wants the best for all of them. He DOES believe that they can be the best...the best ANYWHERE. He DOES believe that. If you think that is insulting, then I'm sorry that you don't know Mr. Brady. I feel certain if you did, you would feel differently.
A few points:
1-The director is always right because he is the adult in charge, and that's how life works. However, mutual respect goes a long way in motivating students, employees, etc.
2-This is an EXTRA-curricular activity for the students. The "curricular" part needs to be their top priority. They can't take personal days to go fishing, rest, do homework, etc. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with taking a day off, but it's just not an option for the students. Yes, they have holidays, but personal days are in addition to that, and can be used when they are particularly needed. Students don't have that option.
3-It seems that there could be such a thing as too much practice. Staying out until 1:00 on a Friday night and then practicing again before the competition might be tiring out the kids and taking the edge off their performance.
4-Mr. Brady likes to talk about individual excellence, but there is also something to be said for concern for the individual. Each band member on that field has their own concerns, struggles, & hardships. Most of which, the adults around them will never know.
5th and final point- All of us want this band to succeed, but at what cost and does everything have to happen in one year?
Band is not EXTRA curricular. I have a very developed curriculum. Band is co-curricular and it is academic. The students receive a grade for what they do in class as well as out of class. Seems like whoever wrote this above needs to find some extra curricular activities not co-curricular and academic activities.
Let me be more specific.....MARCHING band is "extra". Obviously some kids are in band class, but do not march. No one is saying you don't teach or don't have a very developed curriculum (of course, I assume you follow the SC standards), but everything after 3:45 is EXTRA.
Actually, marching band is NOT extra. It is a part of the curriculum for the symphonic classes. There are actually a few students who do not march who are in symphonic classes. Those students are required to write research papers as a replacement for their lack of participation in marching band.
I have to say that I am very disappointed in the "drama" that I've seen in the past couple of days. Really....its unfortunate and just silly.
I am learning that there are some people who want to stir the pot......These people speak of being positive and motivating to the students. These people write about mutual respect. Sadly, these are the same people who are leaving disrespectful and negative comments on the blog.
Again, if you don't like what he writes, then don't read it. And if you don't like the changes he's making, then maybe you should talk to him face to face. I can assure you it would be more effective than bashing him with negative comments (in a passive aggressive manner) on-line.
You speak of mutual respect...That would be a lot more respectful to him, the students, and the program than leaving an anonymous comment on a blog you are not required to read.........
Everyone needs to stop and TAKE A BREATH. I know Mr. Brady well and he has the best interests of the band at heart. Maybe you CRITICS need to walk in his shoes instead of being a sideline quarterback. He works very hard, spends more hours in one week working for this band than most of you critics even work in one week. Get a grip and give him your support instead of being critical. All of us have our own personality. One the best for Dutch Fork is what Mr. Brady wants and that is what you should want.
Well i dont care what nobody say. i think you re TITE!!! You have done what i thought nobody could do with our band. yea you hard on us but we so much better because of it. i enjoy goin to practice because i know we have a chance to do something this year. && the decesion of an "AUDITIONED BAND" is complectly TITE! I dont care what the kids in either the dutch fork or ur prior band say,you are the bomb in my eyes. Im not telling who i am but by the way im typing u can probally tell imma student. i was tryna type proper and stuff but im on chill mode after a good day at practice!!!REMEMBER MR. BRADY U R TITE DONT EVER LET NOBODY TELL U DIFFERENT!!
P.S. ABSOLUTLY LOVE THE NEW VISUAL IN DARK. IT MADE ME EXCITED TO GET TO THAT PART. DONT GIVE UP ON US. SOME OF US ARE WORKIN OUR BUTTS OFF.WE BELIEVE && RESPECT U!!
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Marching Band should never be considered and "extra" activity. I completely agree with Mr. Brady in saying that we dedicate too much time to just through everything we've worked for into some catagory such as "spanish club". We gave our summer, our friday nights, our weekend, and most importantly our faith to this band! If you cannot appericate this activity for what it is you do not deserve the right to be in it. Mr. Brady has put forth so much extra enery and time that no other teacher at Dutch Fork even dreams of doing without and extra paycheck. I believe that we owe it to him and to each other to treat this activity, this band, with the respect it deserves and to go out there at state and show them what we've worked for! And no matter what critizism I have heard from anyone about being a band director I still hope one day I my self may join the profession. Thank you so much Mr. Brady, and thank you so much Band! Now lets win this thing!!
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