Long time, no post. My apologies.
First, all the bands are really hitting their stride right now. I like to think that it is a benefit of constantly raising standards, but whatever it is, it's working. All 3 grades in the middle school are the best we've ever seen here, and it's new excitement every day as we dive into great music making.

At the high school, we are getting ready for the March concert, which will feature trombone soloist Tim Newman. Tim is currently a band director in Alma. We went to MSU together and, unlike myself, he has maintained his trombone chops. I'm really looking forward to having him on campus. I'm sure that you will be pleased with what you hear.

The high school band room is also undergoing a bit of a facelift. High school junior Emily Stout (not a band member) has designed, and is painting, a mural on a large section of drywall in the high school room. As of right now, the wall has been primed and the design has been traced. Emily believes that we will be able to start the paiting next week. VERY EXCITING!!!

The 2nd semester installment of the Little Caesar's Pizza Kit sale started today. This year, we are collaborating with the 4th grade as they are fundraising for their trip to Mackinac Island. We hope to be able to fund a few more instrument purchases (namely a marimba, two more timpani, chimes, and another bass clarinet) and to keep those that we have in great working order. If you wish to donate or to purchase goods, shoot me an email.

I will try to do a better job of keeping al

Middle school is an awkward time to be a kid; I might even say the most awkward. You’re no longer the “big fish” you were in 5th grade (though some act like it) and you’re not in the high school yet. Developmentally, students go through all types of changes, both physical and mental. As a teacher, I see the foundations of rebellion solidify and am constantly amazed at how fast things like taste in fashion and music alter among today’s middle schooler. I only bring this up because I’m facing a middle school conundrum right now and I haven’t quite figured it out, so please allow me to think “aloud” here and explain the situation.

By the time a student reaches high school band, and specifically their second semester, it is assumed, quite safely, that they have bought into the philosophy that we have been pushing for seven years now; “why be good when you can be great?” High school band members own this philosophy and accept its rigid standards and required work load. They enter class and rehearsals knowing that if good effort is given, I will constantly ask for more.  I have told them many times that I believe that is why they keep coming back. Obviously, I mix this with much deserved praise when work merits it and we sprinkle in humor where needed and moments of relaxation, so as to get the atmosphere we have created and continue to thrive upon. But what about those middle school years, and in particular, the 8th grade year? There is no denying that the mixture needs to be altered for the different age group, but shouldn’t the standard, at its core, stay the same? 8th graders, in general, have a tendency to behave much like 5th graders; they are the oldest students in the school and sometimes believe that this endows them with more privileges than the “lesser” 6th and 7th graders. They sometimes believe they can be two minutes late to class and no one will notice, they can practice less and no one will know because “I’ll just play softer than the person next to me and Mr. Vliek won’t know”, and they think the little conversation they are having with their friend isn’t being heard by everyone around them, even though their friend is sitting a full 15 feet away from them. In this sense, it’s almost humorous looking at the stereotypical 8th grader knowing the shock on their face when a teacher scolds them or asks them to read the note aloud that they were passing with their friend. But how do we instill the standard we have worked so hard to create in the high school in our upper middle schoolers? I have two contradicting philosophies that I would like to pose and I’ll tell you where I stand at the end.

First, there is the philosophy that band should be fun and the way to tell if band is fun is by looking at how many students participate. After all, if it’s fun, they will enjoy doing it and the band will grow and grow, showing the surrounding community how important music is and emphasizing the communal nature of participating in the arts. Students are busy and if they don’t practice, I’m sure there was a good reason. If a student sits quietly in their chair, doesn’t bother anyone, and helps set up and take down chairs, they deserve an “A” in band. Band is an easy “A”, right?

On the other side of the coin, only those willing to work daily should join band. Everyone else, stay out of our way. A bit militaristic, but this is the way bands used to be run. When you think about it, it is quite utopian in that hard work gets rewarded and laziness or indifference gets reprimanded. Numbers don’t mean a thing. A band of 8 could be better than a band of 108.

So where do I stand? It’s not that simple. Both sides make great points. Band should be fun, BUT there should also be the standard for hard work. A band should be as large as it can be, BUT only as large as number of members willing to sacrifice for the greater good. Every student should be able to earn an “A” in band, BUT only if they deserve it. We are not handing out grades like candy.

So back to my original conundrum, how hard do I push upper middle school students, especially 8th graders? I want them to succeed, more than anything, but I don’t want that success to be incidental or coincidental. If it’s not earned, I don’t want it and it has no place in our organization. But I also want to instill the belief that hard work is fun and worth coming back for on a daily basis. The product we create and all of the elements that can’t be reflected on a gradesheet are what make us who we are, as a band. So how hard can I push? I want them to try high school band, but I don’t want them to try it thinking it’s going to be easier than 8th grade (quite the reverse actually). So here is what I’m going to do; hard work will be rewarded and expected. Practice will be required and necessary for improvement. Your grade in band will no longer reflect your ability to sit in a chair and simply not bother anybody, but rather your actions in improving both yourself and our band. Above all, your grade will be a reflection of your DESIRE to be greater than you were yesterday. This will be judged in the same way we judge character; by your actions. Anybody can say they want to be great, but Springport bandos will prove it with the way we work and perform, no matter if you’re 13 years old or 18 years old. We must all buy into the philosophy or we will continually fall into that endless purgatory of “good”.

Sorry for the rambling. Tips?….feel free to comment.

Congratulations to Rachel Leightner who was voted 2011 Homecoming Queen! We, the band, could not think of a better person for such an honor. Way to go, Rachel!

It's polyester....it doesn't breathe.....nobody really looks great in it......it's uncomfortable in places you don't want discomfort.......and yet there is something about it that is exciting. It's the marching band uniform. It seems weird that the same item that causes more students to drop out of band before high school is one of the greatest symbols of pride that our organization can display. Every year, I am amazed at the improvement in performance quality from our first game (always done in t-shirt and jeans) and our second game (always done in full uniform). I think it's the mentality. If we break it down, students wear t-shirts and jeans everyday to school; they wear them on the weekends; it is their "everyday" clothes, therefore, putting one on to perform in gives no added adrenaline rush. We are merely just a group of 54 kids wearing the same shirt. However, the uniform is none of these things. It is not "everyday" and no one gets to wear it but us. There is a certain sense of accomplishment when the uniform is put on, a culmination of hours of practice time, both individually and collectively. I was thrilled by what I saw and heard on Friday night. Was it perfect? Absolutely not! I don't want it to be. We don't want to peak in September. But an improvement? Not even measurable. 

The best part are the smiles, though. Students know when stuff clicks and gels and they knew it Friday night. It's starting to get to where we want it. After the game, the band room turns into it's typical chaos of hanging up uniforms and calling rides. Amidst this chaos, I was talking to an upperclassman about the performance at halftime. "I am so proud of OUR band", is what they said. Let me reiterate, they said "OUR band", not "THE band". I could not have said it better or more concise. We are proud of OUR band because when we take pride in OUR band, we take pride in each other and the work and sacrifices that we collectively make for the good of the whole. When it comes down to it, we work for each other and for the greater good, not for individuals. After all, nobody really wants to see a solo marching show, or even a duet marching show. Marching band allows no one to sit the bench, no waterboys, no team managers. We are all starters and play a vital role in achievement. I, too, am proud of OUR band and the work we do, performances we create, and smiles we affect. It only gets better from here.

I don't normally post during the middle of the day, but I thought that this warranted a mention. Many times, band programs are judged by the quality that the HIGH SCHOOL band presents or the musicianship and excitement brought on by 9th through 12 graders. While I understand the reasoning, I think that there is something to be said for the younger "bandos" as well.

This year, sixth grade band meets during first hour. Indeed, it is a great time as many of the students haven't had the squirrel-ishness set in yet. Today, I was reminded of why I enjoy teaching the younger as well as older band students. There is something very pure about the enjoyment that 6th graders get out of everythig we do in band. Everything is new, everything is exciting. Today, we learned to play the first page in our books (a whole three notes). Nothing outstandingly exciting to anybody but a 6th grade band member. To see a student play an instrument for the first time is a true joy. They are learning in ways that they have previously never thought of. They are utilizing parts of their brain that may have been dormant for a while. They are using equipment that is completely foreign and awkward to most of them, but it's SO EXCITING! The even bigger smile comes when they realize how to play it correctly, but lets take baby steps for now. Yes, the sound might initially be dreadful and make you run for the hills (or at least another room), but it is the sound of development and musical enjoyment, which, when you think about it, is really the goal of band in high school as well. Though I may have not slept well last night, or maybe I got up too early, or maybe my coffee was too weak, or maybe I had a rough drive in to school today, my experience in first hour has recharged me for the day. Frequently, I will hear teachers or parents say, "I don't know how you deal with those sounds everyday for an hour". Look past the tone quality and squeaks and blats and toots. It's the sound of excellence right at it's inception. The next great thing is only a page turn away. I liken it to a baby crying, in a way. On the surface, the sound of baby crying is sometimes hard to hear. But when it's your child and the cry is completely natural, it's the most beautiful sound imaginable because you know that the cry will soon turn into laughter. So it is with music. We turn those blats and squeaks into the most beautiful sound possible.....and it all starts first hour (almost poetic in a way).

Way to go 6th graders! You are on your way. I look forward to seeing what you bring to the table in the coming months.

It was just announced that all 3 drum majors from the high school marching band have been voted onto Homecoming Court. A huge congratulations to Rachel Leightner, Christian Sabados, and Eston Dawson-Baglien. If I said I was surprised, I'd be lieing. GO BANDOS!!!

So we're off and running. Kids come back from a summer of growing and, usually, not playing their instrument. They show up in their best back to school clothes. Some have new hair styles, some even have new hair colors. They come in all shapes and sizes. I was talking with a co-worker yesterday and I remarked how exhausted I was after the first day. Keep in mind that the first day is only a half-day, and middle school and high school teachers only see our kids for 15-18 minutes per period. Yet, still, I was exhausted. I have no doubt that any great teacher gets just as excited/anxious/nervous/fretful as they did when they were in school. The anticipation is a killer!

So what have our first days shown me about our students for the coming year. Let's highlight a few points:

1. Every student, from 6th grade to high school, is okay with our new increased band standards. I was, to be honest, expecting a decent amount of resistance when I announced that we were inserting recorded quizzes and a higher level of accountability at all levels. While I got the customary eye widening, I also got some smiles from students who knew this was the right thing to do.

2. My rock history class is awesome!! I can already tell that I have a group not afraid to discuss, challenge, and debate. While they are the largest I've ever had (31), they are already also the most engaged. Let's hope this continues.

3. Student leadership in the high school is improving every day. As our staff from band camp are no longer available, it's up to our student leaders and they are fully willing to take the helm.

4. Finally, the most important......the re-invigoration speech. Every year, teachers come in to school for two days of professional development. These days are meant to get us back into "the swing of things", and are frequently filled with seminars on this or that. At some point, someone usually gives the "welcome back" or "let's have a great year" speech. While these speeches often do contain valuable information or inspirational anecdotes, it was not a speech that has inspired me to work this year, it was a conversation I had with a student the other day. This student was working after school and we got to talking about what it means to be in band and the different walks of life present in our classrooms. It wasn't that I had never appreciated these things before, but I guess that I had never appreciated the extent to which students noticed this as well. I know that I sound like a broken record, but I cherish the opportunity that band presents us everyday and the way that I am allowed to affect change within the community. The most important element, though, and the element that got me "re-invigorated", is that I have students who notice what I notice, value what I value, and have the same definition of "success" that I have held close for many years now. To that student, thanks. That re-invigoration is always nice to get from an administrator, but it is truly inspiring and affecting when it comes from a student. 

Tonight marked the first home football game of the 2011 season for the Springport Spartans and therefore the first general public performance of the marching band. In a lot of ways, I thought that the performance mirrored the football game. Both started off a little worrisome and shaky but finished strong. The first performance is always a learning experience and the more that I teach, the more I realize that you can't prepare a rookie for a performance atmosphere. It is an experience that must be had to be learned from. The adrenaline, butterflies, and anticipation are learning experiences unto themselves. 

I know that many students came away from tonight saying "uh-oh", but I also know that many students came away smiling, knowing that the goal is simply improvement, and I have seen strong improvement in the past weeks. If you would like another reason to not be worried, let's take a look at the past few years and the first performance as opposed to the first performance IN UNIFORM (always the second performance). There is something about that uniform that elevates us, makes us more focused, drives us to march taller, play more aggressively, and take more pride in everything we do. I anxiously anticipate September 16th for those reasons (and the fact that we will have more of the show to display). Stay tuned. It's going to be a great fall!

Oh, and way to go Spartan footballers!! You can't win 'em all if you don't win the first one.

Yesterday marked the successful completion of another year of band camp. Entering the week, I was very curious as to the band that I was going to be working with this year. Whenever you graduate such a large percentage of the previous years group, you enter the new year thinking almost like Forrest Gump; "You never know what you're gonna get". I decided early on that the goal for this year was personal accountability for successes and failures. The past week only reaffirmed my stance that I teach the best kids that Springport has to offer. When focused, this year's band rehearses better than any group I've worked with and shows a desire to improve upon previous successes. I must give special kudos to the freshmen class, as I was so impressed with the level of quality that they brought every day. This isn't really a surprise to me since I have known them for three years now, but to rise above expectations always deserves a note of congratulations. I must also congratulate and give thanks to the leadership core of students that have taken on increased responsibility this year. I am trying some new ways of delegating responsibility, some that haven't been possible in years past, and this group of leaders has risen to the challenge. I am confident that the attitudes we have set forth in these past 5 days will continue with us for the duration of the school year and help to firmly reestablish our reputation as the epitome of hard work and success in Springport. Bandos rock!