Crazy in Sr. High

[Audrey]

Well, since I had no clue where this topic would fall, I've decided to put it into Misc. Well I'm in hs band as some of you know. This is my 1st year in sr. hs, so I am much more familiar with the band directors form jr. high; I even take private lessons from one of them. After my current band director (the sr, high one) heard I was studying with another teacher, she has ignored all of my suggestions in band/jazz band and forbade me from soloing in the latter. I don't know why she would take so strong offence, I am trying to better myself as a player by taking lessons. I would've asked to study w/ her, but I know the other teacher better and his major is the sax- hers is the flute. Now, she yells at every little thing I do wrong. Have any of you had an experience like this? How would you handle it? Audrey

[gary]

Oh, boy, Audrey. First, if it's any consolation, you are not alone. I've read similar experiences on web pages and have had some experiences myself. Hopefully, knowing you're not alone and that people can get through these experiences will help you hang in through this.

I'm sorry to say this and I hope I'm not undermining your teacher, but it sounds to me like your teacher has a self-esteem problem and is jealous of your private teacher. It is possible, however, that your HS band teacher has had some bad experiences with your JrHS teacher that were not her fault. But these are things you might not know about or get a balanced opinion even if you do know. Just keep in mind that the problems you are having with your new teacher are about HER, not YOU.

I'm sorry to say this, but the teaching profession is a fairly well-protected invironment for teachers (regardless of what some of them may think) and it's easy for some to even become somewhat naieve or petty. One finds this on university-level faculty, as well.

This is not a general indictment of teachers by any means, but there seems to be something about the invironment that allows this kind of thinking and actions that some other environments will not tolerate. Unfortunately, students are easy prey and vulnerable to teachers' petty whims.

When I was in tenth grade, I changed private teachers. My former teacher was my current band teacher and my new private teacher was the band teacher at another very successful HS band program. A few weeks after I began my lessons with my new teacher, my current band teacher (and former private teacher) moved me from first seat trumpet down a few seats. Believe me, my playing had not deteriorated in a few weeks and I had been first seat the previous two years (it was a JrHS in transition to a HS).

While I was a bit confused, I just went ahead and played my horn, continued with my private lessons and eventually wound up on the first book in both all-state band all-state orchestra for each year I was in HS and my HS band teacher couldn't do anything about it. I eventually went on to a full-time career in music as a performer, composer and conductor (not in an acedemic setting) and earned a doctorate. I basically just ignored my band teacher's pettiness.

He even wrote in my school yearbook that I "...had pulled the rug out from under him and the band..." that year. What a jerk. Not only had I bettered my playing but you just don't write stuff like that in a sensitive and impressionable kid's yearbook.

Regardless of if you want to take the same path as mine, or if you simply want to enjoy music and other purstuits in your life, my point is that if one just goes ahead with what they believe is the correct path it usually all comes out in the end.

Now, to more short-term actions. I would suggest your telling your private teacher about these experiences and asking him what might be causing the problem (keeping in mind the answer may be a bit one-sided, it is still one part of the problem that might help you understand.) Let him do the talking and try to read between the lines, if appropriate.

I would also confide in my parents and ask for a meeting with the band teacher. I know this might be pretty tough to do but it will make you feel better in the long run to have things out in the open. At present you and your band teacher might be second-guessing one another and that may just become a dead-end street. At best, you can come to an understanding; at worst you may know clearly that there may be other actions you need to take. (In my case, I changed schools at the next year).

I'm sure you'll get other thoughts on this, some which may not be consistent with mine and that's fine; cou'll have a perspective. Just keep in mind to keep the "high road" on your actions.

Keep us informed and good luck!

[Steve J.]

I have been a band director, have two children who have graduated high school, and one soon to enter.

In my experience, Audrey's situation, perceived or real, needs to be addressed by a parent or parents. A discussion with the band director first is in order. If not satisfied with this route a discussion with the administration. There is little question in my experience that parent envolvement shakes out problems at this level of education like nothing else. Any other approach will have slower and less real results.

Audrey, make your parents or parent (guardian) aware of your thoughts and ask them to explore the situation. I trust things will line up fairer for you pretty quickly.

[jazzbluescat]

All that's fine and dandy.
But I'll bet the real poop is that they usta date and the JrHS teach dumped the flautist.http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung/liebe/mrstraetz.gif

[Grumps]

Audrey,
I think you might want to consider an alternate perspective. Have you considered that an adult high school band director may not care to consider "suggestions" from a first year high school student? Let's be honest..... how many "suggestions" do you make and how often? What kind of "suggestions" do you make? And when you make them, do you reference your junior high band director? Your high school band director is your in school teacher. While you're in school, you are her student. Don't assume an ulterior motive when your own behavior may in fact be the cause of your troubles.

[Audrey]

I thank you all for your comments. I know that it could be partically my fault, too. I didn't mean to sound so blunt, but it's hard to fill in all of the details. Also, I don't think that it is me. Some other students said that she has been a little edgey for a while. Scuttlebut says that she's having a baby. I don't know, maybe she's mad, maybe she's jealous, maybe I'm an ***, or maybe she some other justifiable reasson for this. I'm just a little confused at the moment. lol

[Hurling Frootmig]

Best of luck. I would agree with the director who mentioned that the best course of action would be a parent teacher interview. Don't let this derail your attempts to make yourself a better player. Keep up the practicing and try to learn from multiple sources. There are some wonderful teachers out there but I firmly believe that you'll learn more by studying with multiple talented teachers rather than just one.

[keithsy]

A good teacher will always tell his students to supplement in whatever they are learning. Some teachers are very insecure. The band teachers that I see are not fit for man, nor beast.

[Kareeser]

Lamentable...

It's been 5 years now... I wonder what has happened since then?

[bluesaxgirl]

Lamentable...

It's been 5 years now... I wonder what has happened since then?

Shall we email Audrey and find out?

[Kareeser]

Tried... emails disabled by user request. Boo...

[rs1sensen]

Old thread, but I'll reply to it anyways, just because it's something I too have seen with many other students.

Right now I'm a music education major at a university, and a topic of common conversation is "why are you doing this?" After all, you have to be fairly insane to become a music major in the first place, and on the other hand, we all enjoy hearing inspirational stories from each other.

One thing I have found, at least in this area, is that a huge amount of the people going to study music have either A. Had a truly inspiring and skilled band director, or B. Had an absolutely terrible one. There are many many many terrible band directors out there in the world, and it's my personal opinion that many of them do more bad than good for their students. I say this not to take a jab at band directors (I want to be one), but it's something that has always saddened me. Sit in on the sightreading room of any band festival for a few hours, and you'll see what I mean.

I've seen so many directors who are failed performers, and so many who felt like they deserved respect. It's not about being entitled to respect, it's about earning it, and that's where so many directors fail. Sure, we have to be mean or nasty sometimes. We do it when we have to, and only then. Most of the time we do what we can to not just teach music, but to teach a little about life. The truly best band directors are counselors , too.

I remember when I was working crew for the Michigan Music Conference, sitting back and watching the bands from some of the best schools in our state, and in the nation, prepare to perform for their peers. During one inspirational performance, when I was sitting backstage among several other band directors, I turned to see that almost all of them were lightly conducting in the air. I realized I was doing the same thing. But to them, they were remembering past bands, past students, past adventures and discoveries in music. I realized then "this is what it's all about."

In high school, I knew a lot of the personal details of my director's lives. It helped that I had them in middle school too. I was there when the boyfriend of one of them proposed to her (in front of the entire band, btw). I was there during sicknesses, money troubles, and I even knew of issues in the administration. It doesn't sound like Audrey's director has fostered this part of personal connection.

At the same time...taking all of that into account, many of us do know what we're doing (at least musically). And it can be incredibly frustrating to be told otherwise. Those students who are constantly "suggesting" things should consider a career in music, when they can use those skills on their own students!