Can you answer this question?
I'm not necessarily asking what makes you happy.
I'm asking what makes you feel.
What brings out your true self?
The self that nobody (really) knows.
What makes you laugh?
What makes you cry?
What makes you think?
Music is one of the things that moves me.
(Bet you didn't see that coming.)
Perhaps it moves me most when I least expect it to.
Listen to this link:
Andare - Ludovico Einaudi
The first time I heard it I cried.
It's beautiful.
It made me think.
Or perhaps... not think.
Just feel.
Music makes me cry a lot, actually.
It also intoxicates me with peacefulness, contentment.
It is powerful.
That's why I love it.
That's why I want to teach it.
Not because I want people to cry.
But Because I want people to feel.
Society doesn't teach that anymore.
Music programs aren't about making students happy.
They're about competition.
The hardware, the rankings, the status.
This hurts me. A lot.
I was blessed to have come from a different and unfortunately rare situation.
A school where competition was never a factor.
We were taught, or rather, had the opportunity to put our hearts into the music.
To play for ourselves.
Not the judges.
To feel.
And being a college music major, it's pretty clear...
Who was taught to use music for the wrong reasons.
These people were taught to win...
And they couldn't help it.
There's no doubt that these competitive schools produce some excellent musicians.
And there's also no doubt that it feels great to come out on top. To win.
But is it worth it?
What about the kids who have no intent to even touch an instrument after high school?
The kids who you know never take their horns home to practice.
The kids tho just enjoy playing in band... because it's fun.
There's a reason they're still in it.
It it right to deprive them of that enjoyment?
To me, the quality of a music program is based on the percentage of students in the school that are involved and how much that keeps on growing each year...
Not how little wall space you have left in your band room because nearly every square inch is covered with trophies and awards.
What does that prove?
Competition helps nobody.
There's nothing "American" about it, as some say.
There's nothing "healthy" about targeting individuals to prove you're better.
Don't get me wrong...
It is great to go for the gold.
Other people, including your peers, want to see you succeed.
Just don't make it a point to crush them in the process.
I can't wait to make a difference.
Quotes of the day:
"Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music." - Ronald Regan
"Trying to be number one and trying to do a task well are two different things." - Alfie Kohn
