Revved Up!

I recently had the pleasure of traveling to San Antonio for the Bands of America Super Regional, and I was amazed at the high caliber of performances from all groups. There is clearly something in the water down in Texas that helps those programs perform with that level of excellence. I enjoyed every group so much that I almost wanted to un-retire and get back on the podium. Almost...

Honestly, that experience made me think about some of the areas I feel need to be addressed by many directors. We make many excuses to justify our lack of success or progress. So, it is time to START.

Stop complaining and start improving. Make a list of the weaknesses of your program and include any perceived weaknesses in your teaching. This list is now your focus for the next year. Find people and ways that will strengthen or remove those weaknesses. This is not an easy process and requires a lot of honesty and reflection. But in the long run it will be highly beneficial.

Talk less/listen more. Do this in rehearsal and in your daily interactions. Judge Judy even points out that you have 1 mouth and 2 ears. There should always be twice the listening occurring as speaking in almost all situations. In rehearsal give the students as many minutes of playing as possible with quick and focused verbal feedback. Focus your comments on issues at hand and save the "stories" for more appropriate situations. In your daily interactions, let students and others take advantage of the opportunity to share their perspective of you and your program. You may gain a unique and positive viewpoint that moves the program in an unexpected forward direction.

Accept responsibility for all good and bad in your program. You are required to provide the students with the appropriate skills, music, and learning environment to have success. Not properly accessing any of these areas will result in lack of success. Place an emphasis on developing weaker skills in your group while featuring your strengths. Select music that will help improve those skills needing advancement. And select performance opportunities that will aid in growth of your program.

React with less emotion and more empathy. As a teacher you must always display caring and sensitivity in your remarks to you students. Limit comments made in anger and outrage as much as possible. Counting to ten is always easier that trying to erase statements that humiliate or embarrass students. Focus your reactions to negative situations on the why and not your emotions. This is much easier than trying to mend relationships and explaining you comments.

Take, Take, Take, Take, Take

• Take as much as you can from successful programs.
• Take criticism as an opportunity to grow and learn.
• Take time for personal relationships.
• Take praise (humbly) when given.
• Take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. 

This is not a list intended to fix all issues in any program. It is a way to put you on a track for improvement and positive results for you and your program. Remember that you can't drive a car until you start the engine. I am hopeful that this list might be the key to start your teaching engine.

Troy Bunkley completed 31 years of teaching and joined the Palen Music Center team in June of 2016. He served as the Music Department Chair and Band Director at Washington, MO for 22 years, taught at Poplar Bluff, MO for 7 years and Fredericktown, MO for 2 years. He received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from National-Louis University. He spends his free time trying to keep up with his three sons: Clayton who is Asst. Band Director/Director of Percussion in Camdenton, Missouri, Cameron who is a Senior Medic with the 75th Ranger Regiment of the US Army, and Colton who is a Senior at Missouri State University studying Music Education or his wife Julie and her color guard or babysitting duties.