Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • June 2013
14
communication must be redundant, duplicated, and
intentional. Lee Ellis reports, “A simple message must
be repeatedly delivered in a cascading manner through
multiple channels” (2012).
Communication in most band booster organizations
occurs when a memo is sent home with the students
or an email blast is sent out to the band database.
An organization’s communication efforts might gain
greater productivity if consideration is given to how
people learn or receive information. For instance, if
you need every band parent to come to a mandatory
meeting, someone who best responds to information
visually may need to be sent three emails and two
text messages; for someone who best responds to
information aurally, they might need two phone calls
and video attached to a text message; others may
respond best by having a memo or newsletter to tactilely
touch and hold, etc. Thus, effective organizational
communication becomes about personal conversation,
meetings, presentations, phone calls, text messages,
newsletters, posters, graphics, Facebook events and
status posts, emails, postcards, press releases, twitter,
instagrams, etc. Remember, the communication should
be concise, intentional, repeated often and through
multiple channels.
Henry Ford states, “Coming together is the
beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working
together is success.” Working toward a shared, common
goal creates community. Through the successful
strategic implementation and communication of the
organization’s culture a by-product of community
is realized in shared meals, projects, and stories.
Community is created when there is trust between
leaders and volunteers. A good leader trusts those
in their charge and happily hands the reins over to
them to complete their tasks. A good leader knows
that emotions are contagious; they foster a positive
atmosphere in their community by smiling, caring,
laughing, sending emails/notes of encouragement. They
find people doing something right and applaud it. The
heart of community is building and sharing stories.
These stories add character to your organization; they
provide an element of hospitality, they help to create
relationships, and they give voice to vital signposts in
your organizations past, as well as offering excitement
and expectancy for the future. Moreover, when people
understand the culture of your organization and are
enveloped by their band community . . . your band
booster organization will multiply both in mass and
effectiveness.
Banks, J.A., Banks, & McGee, C. A. (1989).
Multicultural
Education
. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Ellis, L. (2012).
Leading with Honor
. Freedom Star Media.
Hawkins, O.S. (2012).
The Joshua Code
. Nashville, TN:
Thomas Nelson.
Strategic Plans to Mul t iply: Def ining and Communicat ing Your Band’s Cul ture
David Vandewalker, a third generation band director, received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University, Master of Arts
in Education degree from Central Michigan University and is a Doctor of Musical Arts student at Boston University. Mr. Vandewalker is the
Assistant Director of Bands at Georgia State University and the Music Director and Conductor of the Metro Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble.
Prior to his appointment at GSU, Mr. Vandewalker taught for 23 years in both middle and high school settings in Texas and Georgia. David
is a nine-time recipient of the NBA prestigious Citation of Excellence Award, a three-time recipient of National Wind Band Honors Awards
in the New Music category, and is recognized in multiple editions of Who’s Who Among American Teachers. Mr. Vandewalker is the author
of
Boosters to the Rescue, Foundations for Wind Band Clarity, Foundations for Wind Band Clarity Instructional DVD,
and
Everyday Stuff
Every Director Needs to Know: A Quick Start Guide
.