Respect

Changing to Gulf of America is expensive

Communication, Respect, Social Media, Social Media /
Pres Trump announcing the name change to Gulf of America while flying over the Gulf.

I just read and responded to a post about the “cost” ($1+B, according to the writer) for changing the name to Gulf of America. This isn’t meant to be a complete argument, but tell me where I’m wrong (or right)…… kindly, please.

* “Gulf of Mexico” first appeared on maps in 1550. The USA didn’t exist.
* Renamed to Gulf of “America”, NOT “of USA”.
* Mexico is considered to be a country in “North America”. So, appropriate and not a slam against another country.
* 67 million people in USA in states touched by the gulf, vs 16 million in Mexico.
* 5 US States touched by the gulf.
I could have lived with “Mexico”, but feel your argument is based solely on WHO made the change. For example(s)…..

MILITARY BASE NAME CHANGES IN 2023

Fort Barfoot, VA (formerly Fort Pickett) was renamed March 24, 2023
Fort Novosel, AL(formerly Fort Rucker) was renamed April 10, 2023.
Fort Gregg-Adams, VA (formerly Fort Lee) was renamed April 27, 2023.
Fort Cavazos, TX (formerly Fort Hood) was renamed May 9, 2023.
Fort Moore, GA (formerly Fort Benning) was renamed May 11, 2023.
Fort Liberty, NC (formerly Fort Bragg) was renamed June 2, 2023.
Fort Johnson, LA (formerly Fort Polk) was renamed June 13, 2023.
Fort Walker, VA (formerly Fort A.P. Hill) was renamed August 28, 2023.

We (taxpayers) pay every time someone moves in/out of the White House or any office in Congress. We pay to duplicate Air Force One, fly triplicate helicopters and duplicate Beasts.

We changed maps, globes and textbooks when the Berlin Wall came down or the U.S.S.R. fell apart.
With this cost-to-change argument, we could never replace a school, update highways, move airports (Indy) or anything of the such.
What say YOU?

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Response to a friend supporting DEI

Respect, Social Media /
Several programs that have come/gone in my lifetime had noble ideas and, at least in theory, attempted to make the world a better place. We needed something like “AFFIRMATIVE ACTION”, but when my white son working toward a PhD in African-American Literature is told by his Ivy League university that he will not be placed until after every non-white person is placed…. that is discrimination in reverse and just as wrong.
My Fire Chief father was told to hire people of color. When he said he hired from those who passed the tests, he was instructed to re-write the tests — twice. He eventually DID hire the first black (who became a life-long friend). He told me about their first interaction after the hire and I wrote about that in my book … perhaps I’ll share that in a different post, because it taught ME a life lesson.
Dad was also ordered to hire the first woman firefighter for his mid-sized city department. His focus was on ensuring that those he sent into burning buildings understood how fire worked and/or could carry an unconscious person out of the building or down the ladder. That is merit-based hiring, right?
Merit-based hiring vs. affirmative action hiring in professional sports is also interesting, but a topic for another day.
“NO “CHILD LEFT BEHIND” sounded great, until the emphasis on standardized testing rewarded teaching to the test…. Before I retired as a hs teacher, to keep my job, get top evaluations and receive pay increases, I had to prove that every student learned something. The way to do that was to give a really difficult starting test, teach to that test and show a better score at the end of the semester. My argument that a concert in front of an audience was proof of learning was unacceptable. So, I would use tests on rhythms and definitions that would show individual scores. A student shouted out in class, “We need to do poorly on this one.” They understood the game. We still did concerts.
Who remembers “CORE-40”? Or “WEIGHTED GRADES”? We lost students from the music programs because an advanced biology class would count more for a GPA, an Academic Honors Diploma or Valedictorian status (which is being done away with in many schools). So many diplomas. A current proposal in this state is to return to one basic diploma with “seals” for extra qualifications.
The core words of DEI are good. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are all good things. My polio-surviving mother got her job without it, however. I would support it until we start hammering that students in elementary schools are either oppressors or oppressed, or that we can’t hire or promote a better qualified white male until we have equaled the numbers.
We should not overreact to every mention of a program, but some kind of adjustment is needed. Not to worry; there will be a new program coming at us.

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Respect, Preparation and Appreciation for your Pianist

Leave a Comment / College Prep, High Schools, Public Schools, Repost, Respect, Solo Prep, Teaching, Teaching Music /

by John Gardner

January is a month that often includes preparation for solo festival. Many will have an opportunity to practice with an accompanist, perhaps a new experience.

Solo and Ensemble no frameAs instrumentalists, you should realize how long it takes to learn to play piano with the level of proficiency required to accompany your solo. Some pianists have invested thousands in private instruction and college educations. They are proficient at their craft just like an electrician, plumber, mechanic….or a teacher, professor, attorney or doctor. We are fortunate to have pianists willing to work with you. They deserve your respect, your preparation and your appreciation. This note should serve as a guide in working with your pianist.

Your accompanist will 1)spend time practicing your music, 2) spend time and expense coming to school to practice with you, 3) sacrifice part of an evening to help you in our practice recital, and 4) spend over half a day traveling to the contest site and performing with you at District. Group 1 Music is significantly more difficult AND… if you get GOLD at District, your accompanist is then committed to additional practice time and a whole day of time and expense travelling to Indianapolis.

Respect. Most pianists will coach you with their expert advice. Unless they suggest something that conflicts with your private instructor’s instructions, accept their advice as authoritative.

Prepare. Do NOT dis-respect your pianist’s time by not being prepared. You can’t be perfect, but you can be prepared.

Appreciate. Pianists don’t accompany for the big bucks, but some some rely on this as part of his/her income. Unless you have a different arrangement with your particular accompanist, consider an appropriate amount [locally we suggest @$25 min] to cover preparation, about two practices and performance (including recital) through District, and then a respectable amount to cover the additional time, and expense for state finals. Agree in advance with your pianist, including payment terms. And a thank you card is a nice touch…..

Thank you card dark

 

 

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Some choices we made about how to raise our children

Leave a Comment / College Prep, Consulting, High Schools, Personal experience, Respect, Storytelling, Teaching /

Joan and I both come from broken homes. Her parents were divorced, remarried and divorced again. Her mother wouldn’t allow any contact with her father. For our wedding, Joan walked down the aisle alone. Joe was there for the ceremony but left immediately following. My parents’ divorce had less animosity. Our father was still in our lives. There were visits and support. 

But we were both on the receiving end of what we wanted to ensure would never happen to our children. Part of that commitment meant that we would never allow our parents, or anyone else for that matter, tell us how to raise our children.

Read more…

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Practice sheet quotes

College Prep, Music Performance, Personal experience, Respect, Solo Prep, Teaching Music /
I was putting together a practice sheet for a student when I found I’d already done that. I may post that another time…..but at the end of it, I had some quotes….from me, my son’s trumpet professor and my clarinet professor. Oh, I may also do a more substantial post of my teacher’s comments, these were some of his rare positive ones.

“You should not have to tell someone you are good. BE good. PLAY good (well). And if you ARE good, others will tell you…. and that IS good.”
–me
“Always be modest and humble…..until you put that [trumpet] in your hand and step up to perform ….and then you become one mean, arrogant, confident, son of a [band parent]!”
–Dr. CD, Professor of Trumpet at Tennessee Tech University (son’s teacher)
“Fast notes…! So what! NASA can teach monkeys how to wiggle fingers and push buttons. Fast notes deserve to be musical too!” 
“Why do you insist on getting nervous when you perform? That is wasted energy and nerves make mistakes. Consider how many people in the audience could do what you are doing. Do what you know you can do and make them stand up.”
–Dr. PM, Professor of Clarinet at University of Kentucky
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Teens will listen

Leave a Comment / Assistant Directing, High Schools, Marching Band, Music Department, Personal experience, Repost, Respect, Teaching, Teaching Music /

By John Gardner

Talking to the band
R – E – S – P – E – C – T

UPDATE: This pic is from @2016. I retired in 2020, but I still like this pic and believe the point I am making.

I worked with teens for years. I thrive on their youthful enthusiasm. I have always believed that if you show them that you really care about them as an individual, and treat them with dignity and respect, that they will give it to you in return. Can you see that in this pic?

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A Silly Deal with the Band

Leave a Comment / Assistant Directing, Marching Band, Music Department, Personal experience, Respect /

It was at my first Regional Competition at Chesterton in my first year returning to education in 2005. Mr. Campbell and I were walking back toward the buses with the judges’ “Silver” rating results. I was wearing a new school windbreaker Mr. Campbell had given me. 

“You might want to take that off or flip it inside out.”, he said, with no additional comment. 

I questioned him. He simply repeated the advice which I ignored because it made no sense. 

We climbed up the ramp of the trailer to talk to the band. After we spoke, and when students started coming up the ramp, Mr. Campbell stopped them and said, 

“Not on here. We’ll come down.”

I still had no idea.

A few seconds later they were all squirting silly string at us. It was one of those “traditions” no one had told me about. There was a “band buddy” system in place where, throughout the season, members would anonymously get small gifts for their “buddy”. But on the final competition, everybody’s gift to each other was a can of silly string.

What a mess. But, as soon as it was over, all students picked up as much of the silly string as they could. I found that impressive, but I guess it was part of the tradition … and we were at another school.

The next year, at Lafayette Jefferson, I was ready, and so were the students.

But I had a problem with the tradition and shared it with them….not sure if it was in a subsequent rehearsal or at the band banquet, but it went something like this,

“I have two problems with this silly string tradition. First, you are making a mess at someone else’s school. I know you work to clean it up, but you cannot get all of it and so there is always “evidence” that we were there. 

NOTE: I started using the phrase, ‘Leave no evidence’ anytime we were needing to clean up, such as when we were having snacks or celebrating a birthday.) 

And second, you are “celebrating” a SILVER rating. Yes, you’re probably celebrating the end of the season, but it just doesn’t feel right. I don’t want you to silly string ME again until you receive a GOLD rating.“

There were no “silly string” celebrations in 2007-08. But, in 2009, the band received GOLD for the first time since 2001. Speaking for both directors, I made them a “deal”…..

“Let’s have our “GOLD-rating Silly String Celebration back at HNHS, following the band banquet. Bring your stuff to the banquet, and afterward, Mr. Campbell and I will, voluntarily, meet you outside Door 34. Of course, you will have to do clean up, right?”

Deal!

I did two things to enhance our celebration. First, I brought several cans of stringy for Mr. Campbell and I to use. We knew we’d be outnumbered and surrounded, but we would not be unarmed. But also, prior to the evening, I had gone to a small group of trusted parents……

“Following the banquet, Mr. Campbell and I are going to meet the band outside Door 34. They will surround us and silly string us. When THEY surround us, I want YOU to surround THEM, and when it all breaks loose, I want YOU to silly string THEM.”

It was great. 

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Teens I Admire

3 Comments / College Prep, High Schools, Parenting, Personal experience, Respect, Social Media, Teaching, Teaching Music /

By John Gardner

NOTE: I was teaching when I wrote this. I have since retired, so rather than go through and edit what I am doing with what I did do, I’ll just put this disclaimer out there so you know.

Large group of smiling friends staying together and looking at camera isolated on blue backgroundAdults who are afraid of teenagers or who feel like teens of today are nothing like those from their day (adults have been saying that forever, right?) ….. or who think the quality of teens is crumbling….. should come hang out with the teens I get to spend time with.

As a teacher, I can’t use the “love” word, must avoid the “creepy” label (they DO use that word too much), have to be careful how I compliment the way someone looks, and often settle for handshakes and high fives when a good pat on the back or a hug seems so much more appropriate for the circumstance …. but I thoroughly enjoy my time on the school clock. I LOVE the youthful enthusiasm. I ADMIRE their dreams, goals, and aspirations. And I RESPECT those who make the best of their circumstances as they strive for excellence. I am all about encouraging achievers because they allow me into their lives. I “love” this job AND these teens.

My response to the parent who asked recently, “How do you put up with a room FULL of teenagers?” is “I feel sorry for those who DON’T get to experience a room FULL of teenagers.”

Some of the “types” of teens I admire….

I admire teens who thrive because of their parents…

Band students have complicated schedules that can challenge parental patience. There is the expense of instruments and extras (reeds, valve oil, drum sticks) — not to mention private lessons, summer camps, etc. Vacations get adjusted and, especially until the teen can drive, there are countless trips to drop off and pick up.

Some parents sacrifice soooo much in time, energy and money so that their teen can focus on being a better student, athlete, musician, academic or whatever. But all of that is for naught if the teen doesn’t take advantage of it. I admire teens who appreciate what they have and commit themselves to “getting their parents’ money’s worth”.

I admire teens who thrive in spite of their parents.

I was outside Door 34 prior to a rehearsal when she jumped out of the car and ran up to me, crying and wiping tears from her eyes, “G… I’m sorry…..I’m so sorry.” As she ran off into the building I got the impact of her emotion when I saw the approaching papa angrily waving a copy of our schedule.

“How much of this is mandatory?”, he asked angrily

“All of it.”, I responded quietly.

He huffed and puffed and returned to his car. When I walked into the band office, the daughter was waiting for me, tears streaming….wanting to know that I was okay after an encounter with her father. She needed a hug, and I gave her one.

Additional random examples….

“We’re going to pull our son out of band…..his room is a mess.”

“I can’t come to band today. I’m grounded and part of my punishment is whatever consequence I get from you for not being here.”

” He really loves band…..which is why this has to be part of his punishment.”

“She can’t major in color guard in college….so there is no point in the expense for her to be in this activity.”

“My parents took my band card money and my paycheck money. What do I do?”

“Here’s my paycheck to pay you back for letting me go to Disney. I will be able to pay you back from my job over the next three months.” (And did.)

“I have to stop taking private lessons because my dad says if I have money to waste on music lessons that I can pay rent.”

“G, I just got kicked out of my house.”

“Why are you telling my kid (s)he needs extra money for music lessons? Aren’t you the teacher? Why don’t you do what you’re getting paid for?”

“Why should I buy another [instrument]? I bought the one they told me to buy when (s)he started.”

Some of the most determined to succeed band students have parents I never meet. I understand busy and I understand the struggles of single parenthood (there were five kids in my single parent home) and it can be hard….yes, it can be hard. But it is sad sometimes to watch students try not to show disappointment when the parent is not there…. just sayin’.

I admire students who, despite the potential negatives of their circumstances…..are determined to succeed…..

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