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Madison
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
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what are things you like and dislike about being a highschool band/marching band director?
marching band
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3 answers
John Morris
Instructional Designer / Musician / eLearning Creator
30
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John’s Answer
I found being a band director both rewarding and difficult.
It was rewarding because I was spending every day making music, which I loved. It was difficult because the hours were extremely long.
My high school bands were huge, I had two of them and each had about 100 members. I also had two choir classes with about 25 members each. This was in a school that had 500 students, so I had about half of the entire student body in my classes. In a way this was kind of cool, no other teacher had such a large percentage of the student body in their classes. I got to know hundreds of kids and really enjoyed the time I spent with all of them.
We didn't have a marching band, but we did have a "pep" band. During football and basketball season, on days when there was a home game, I would work my normal day, go home for an hour or two, then go back to the school where I would open up the band room and supervise the band getting ready for the game and heading to the stadium or gym. We would stay for the entire game after which I would supervise the band returning to the band room and securing their equipment. After that I would go home, it was by then about 10 pm or so. If there was an away game that we were attending, there would be a bus ride up to two hours each way.
This was hard work, but since I was young and energetic, I liked it.
I love music and hearing my bands and choirs improve as they learned their music was wonderful. I really enjoyed being a part of the students' lives and being an influence for them. I enjoyed watching the football and basketball games. I knew all of the players and I loved being part of the crowd that was there for them, win or lose.
At the end of my last year a student wrote me a note telling me how much she appreciated my class and how much it helped her open up and feel more happy. Some people say that these kinds of things make it all worthwhile, and they are correct. I have that note in a frame in my office. It is a prized possession.
I eventually left for another career, but my years as a music teacher remain my proudest achievement. I still work in education and training so I am using my education and teaching experience to this day. I am still in touch with a few students from those days and I have seen over the years that I did indeed have an impact on their lives.
There are band directors who teach for decades and I am in awe of them. They build amazing programs and have tremendous impact on the school, the community, and the students. I wonder sometimes if I could have been one of those legendary band directors if I had remained a music teacher, I will never know. But I did have a few years and it was a great experience.
It was rewarding because I was spending every day making music, which I loved. It was difficult because the hours were extremely long.
My high school bands were huge, I had two of them and each had about 100 members. I also had two choir classes with about 25 members each. This was in a school that had 500 students, so I had about half of the entire student body in my classes. In a way this was kind of cool, no other teacher had such a large percentage of the student body in their classes. I got to know hundreds of kids and really enjoyed the time I spent with all of them.
We didn't have a marching band, but we did have a "pep" band. During football and basketball season, on days when there was a home game, I would work my normal day, go home for an hour or two, then go back to the school where I would open up the band room and supervise the band getting ready for the game and heading to the stadium or gym. We would stay for the entire game after which I would supervise the band returning to the band room and securing their equipment. After that I would go home, it was by then about 10 pm or so. If there was an away game that we were attending, there would be a bus ride up to two hours each way.
This was hard work, but since I was young and energetic, I liked it.
I love music and hearing my bands and choirs improve as they learned their music was wonderful. I really enjoyed being a part of the students' lives and being an influence for them. I enjoyed watching the football and basketball games. I knew all of the players and I loved being part of the crowd that was there for them, win or lose.
At the end of my last year a student wrote me a note telling me how much she appreciated my class and how much it helped her open up and feel more happy. Some people say that these kinds of things make it all worthwhile, and they are correct. I have that note in a frame in my office. It is a prized possession.
I eventually left for another career, but my years as a music teacher remain my proudest achievement. I still work in education and training so I am using my education and teaching experience to this day. I am still in touch with a few students from those days and I have seen over the years that I did indeed have an impact on their lives.
There are band directors who teach for decades and I am in awe of them. They build amazing programs and have tremendous impact on the school, the community, and the students. I wonder sometimes if I could have been one of those legendary band directors if I had remained a music teacher, I will never know. But I did have a few years and it was a great experience.
John Owusu
Student
27
Answers
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Updated
John’s Answer
Some things that I like about being a high school band/marching band director include:
1. The opportunity to shape young musicians and help them develop their talents
2. Seeing the progress and growth of the band over time
3. Being able to create and perform music with a group of dedicated and passionate individuals
4. The sense of camaraderie and community that comes with being part of a band.
Some things that I might dislike about being a high school band/marching band director include:
1. The time commitment, which can be demanding and may require a lot of work outside of regular school hours
2. The responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of the students while they are under your direction
3. The pressure of putting on successful performances and dealing with the expectations of parents and school administration
4. The potential for conflicts with students or other staff members.
1. The opportunity to shape young musicians and help them develop their talents
2. Seeing the progress and growth of the band over time
3. Being able to create and perform music with a group of dedicated and passionate individuals
4. The sense of camaraderie and community that comes with being part of a band.
Some things that I might dislike about being a high school band/marching band director include:
1. The time commitment, which can be demanding and may require a lot of work outside of regular school hours
2. The responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of the students while they are under your direction
3. The pressure of putting on successful performances and dealing with the expectations of parents and school administration
4. The potential for conflicts with students or other staff members.
Viridiana Nambo
Student
2
Answers
Memphis, Tennessee
Updated
Viridiana’s Answer
Band is one of those bittersweet moments that only a specific group of people will get to experience in high school. In my opinion, band was very time consuming in which it limited my ability to be able to join many clubs and be able to spend my time doing other things after school. At the same time, band allowed me to open up to new experiences with people that I wouldn't normally see in class and also allowed me to become more centered around my musical skills. Ultimately, the experience of being a band student in high school was a thrill of stress and fun at the same time, but I would say it is worth every moment.