Ok, Oppo, huddle up

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 04/30/2019 at 20:52 • Filed to: None

0

20

I am taking the band director to dinner in about an hour. I have confirmed that these people who do not know me voted for me because after his 7 years of involvement in the band program, they hated the other candidate so much that they preferred a total stranger to him as their President. It is with this mandate from the people that I go forth. Yes, my people, I am not that other guy.

I need some help, Oppo, and some of you are band-type people. I need pointers on what this band director and I should figure out before the moms swarm over us like GOT wights.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 20:58

2

No idea.  God help you.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 21:01

1

Hire a hit man to take out the trouble makers.

AestheticsInMotion > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 21:01

4

Rule with an iron fist.

Rape, p illage, and plunder. 

lone_liberal > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 21:07

0

Don’t look at me. During my high school band days “parental involvement” wasn’t really a thing that happened.

ttyymmnn > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 21:16

5

Ask him what worked and what didn’t work with the former administration, and what specifically he’d like done differently . Ask him how the boosters can best support his vision for the band, and the needs of the students. What is the appropriate relationship between the boosters and the director? At our school, where we are boosters (all parents are, technically) , the organization runs somewhat autonomously, but it is all still cleared with the director.

Good luck! And be sure to pay for dinner. There’s nothing musicians like more than free food.

WilliamsSW > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 21:18

5

- Replace the Star Spangled Banner with God Save the Queen ( Sex Pistols version, duh)

- Black Flag themed concert

- How band funds can be diverted for better uses, specifically car parts

- Free Bird

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 21:20

1

Ask him if Copeland was a masochist or just a jerk for composing it n 1/2 time

I really got nothing but it’s something my symphonic flute playing ex used to complain about  

ttyymmnn > lone_liberal 04/30/2019 at 21:23

0

I’ve been to every game and contest I could go to, and my parents never saw me march once. Ours was a small HS band, and we didn’t compete. But still. There was zero parental involvement in our school, but it wasn’t necessary either. 

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 04/30/2019 at 21:23

1

Starred for the buying dinner suggestion.

It was almost as good as my advice

ttyymmnn > WilliamsSW 04/30/2019 at 21:25

0

I don’t know, your advice was pretty awesome. 

WilliamsSW > ttyymmnn 04/30/2019 at 21:34

1

Eh, I forgot Schools Out by Alice Cooper and Smokin In the Boys Room by Brownsville Station.

lone_liberal > ttyymmnn 04/30/2019 at 21:34

1

My parents saw me march a couple of times, when the parade was on local TV. I usually even had to get rides to and from the school before I had a license. We usually only had one car and my dad worked rotating shifts. I think our band usually had 30 or so people in it and we were the marching band, pep band and jazz band all in one.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 21:40

2

Bagpipes.

You’ll never be elected again.

Montalvo > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 22:07

0

I wouldn’t have the first clue but my uncle sure would as he spent 35 years as the band director of the Liberty High School Grenadiers. From what I have heard the key was just like being the boss of a company.  If anyone will have relevant experience in that it should be you . Try to maintain as positive a relationship as possible with everyone you can. You can’t please everyone but killing with kindness will make thorns in your side be disregarded by the rest. Know how to compromise but have clear defined lines in the sand of what is out of the question. Don’t flip flop on decisions as people may not be happy with something but they are generally much more forgiving of a full effort compared to it being half assed.

https://www.mcall.com/entertainment/mc-liberty-grenadier-band-documentary-20160703-story.html

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 22:30

0

I'm confused, band directors get elected in your town? I did marching band in high school but our director was definitely just hired by the school and also taught concert band, jazz band, and other ensembles. He was also the conductor for those bands. Anyways, we had quite the competitive marching band, often winning the east coast tournaments that we went to under his leadership. Just interesting how that could be an elected position. And good luck with the band moms, while we were always thankful for their support, I'm sure it was hell for the director and staff since they were complainy. 

TheRealBicycleBuck > ImmoralMinority 04/30/2019 at 22:48

1

As ttyymmnn alluded to, get  to know what the director’s goals and objectives are, then figure out how the parents can best support him. Think big. Our little band took a major trip every four years and with the support of our boosters, managed to raise enough money to buy new uniforms just before the trip. It was a stretch goal, but it was well worth the time and effort.

ttyymmnn > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 04/30/2019 at 23:36

0

The only music that should be in one is music that was written in a normal time signature but is too fast to count. 1/2 is bad, but 1/4 is the worst . A whole note getting one beat? Bullshit.

RallyWrench > ttyymmnn 05/01/2019 at 00:53

1

Free beer>free food 

Shour, Aloof and Obnoxious > ImmoralMinority 05/01/2019 at 03:33

2

Boosters become problematic when they decide they know what’s best for the band program more than the band director does.

The director’s LITERAL JOB is to provide the students the highest quality music education that he or she is able to.

The function of the boosters is to help the director do that, both by volunteering man power, and providing fundraising efforts.

Problems arise when booster organizations decide that they know what the students need more than the director does...especially when there has been a history of competitive success. Parents often get caught up in the idea that winning is the only goal. A good educator does aim to win, but win the right way, ensuring that the students’ education and musical experience is not cheapened.

“The old band director bought his drill from this writer; we used to win with him...more stages and props are more important than new sousaphones, so that’s what we’ll pay for...There’s no point in going to THAT contest, and you can take the kids, since you’re the director, but we’ll be staying home because we think it’s a waste of time and money.”

Parents stick around a while, see a few things, taste a little success, and suddenly, they know all the answers, and question anything the director chooses. And if they don’t get their way, well, getting rid of a band director who doesn’t do what the boosters think is right, hey, that’s cake. Suddenly the vice-present’s daughter says the director made an inappropriate comment. Suddenly the entire drum line is complaining about verbal abuse, according to the parents. And now the school board has an angry mob of parents, and the newspapers have heard all about it...and this educator who wouldn’t bend the knee is on his or her way out.

This scenario is more common than you might think.

And I guarantee, whenever there is a turnover in booster leadership, especially the ouster of a long established president or chairman, any band director with half a brain is just a liiiiiiittle wary.

From what I read here, regarding your ethics in the matters of law and of parenthood, I personally feel like you are probably the right parent for the job. Your band director WANTS to believe that, but anyone who’s been around the block knows that any booster chairman can subtly take control of the program if they want. And the only way to reassure your director that you are not the same as the snake who was ousted is for you to trust that educator’s judgment. Believe that they have the best educational and social interests of your child and every child in mind...even if immediately buying their way back to grand champion trophy isn’t their first goal.

A good music educator wants to make GOOD YOUNG CITIZENS first. Responsibility, diligence, tenacity, mental grit, patience, community service, and high standards.. .all through the guise of making music. If a music educator prioritizes these concepts, then they have your child’s best interests at heart, and you should trust them. And if you trust them, and help them do their job, then the success will come.

I know at least half of the 8th graders I have this year will not go on to high school band. It’s okay - they know how to work hard, how to grind, and how to work in the best interest of the community now. That’s exactly what EVERYONE involved in the band room should be thinking about - from the district superintendent to the freshman alternate who still hasn’t learned to stay in step. If everyone is on the same page, then no one loses, even if the trophies have to wait.

(This from the guy who literally posted a picture of the trophy his band won a week ago.)

nermal > ImmoralMinority 05/01/2019 at 09:04

0

Make sure that you fire at least two people on the spot the first time everybody is gathered together. It works best if it’s the first two people to question you.

Gotta show ‘em who’s boss, as well as that you’re serious.