Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • September 2013
25
There’s at least one in every band. The student who
just seems to be going through the motions. Sometimes
mumbling to his or her section “I’m just not into this
today. Rehearsal sucks. It’s too hot today. It’s too cold
today. Something’s wrong with my instrument.” (and
all the other variations on a theme of whining, griping,
moaning, groaning, wondering why they’re having a
terrible time).
Notice how the entire focus of their complaining
always seems to surround
themselves
. Or blaming
other things for the fact that they’re not “into it.”
Rather than concentrating and paying attention,
they’re complaining and perhaps attracting attention,
even distracting others from paying attention, and
in general making—and sometimes causing—more
mistakes in rehearsal.
What can you do to make a difference?
Well short
of kicking them out of band—which in truth isn’t a
very good idea. Whether they’re the worst player or
the best player, we need
everyone
in the band.
Besides, they might not always be this way. It’s just
not their day. Think about it; they may have failed a
test in class. Forgot their lunch, had to buy, and it was
Sloppy Joe day in lunch-lady land. Who knows, but
we’ve all been there. Stuff happens outside of rehearsal
that impacts even the best of us and especially the
worst of us.
Of course the trick is not letting it affect us. Allow
band to be an escape from all THAT and focus on
making music which mentally can bring us to a higher
place above all the riff-raff, the hassles we have, the day
to day thick and thin of things.
But what about that person next to you in your
section who just doesn’t seem to care? How can you
help?
Well here are THREE things you can do:
#1
–
Nothing!
That’s right, ignore them. Don’t give
them any attention. If we know what gets attention
gets repeated, then the last thing you want to do is pay
them off with your attention. It only reinforces their
negative behavior and you do NOT want them having
“another bad day.”
#2
–
Ask them a performance related question.
Say something like:
“Hey, I’m just checking – what count do our horns
go to the press box?
When does that crescendo start?
Where
is
our left hand when we finish that dance
sequence.”
Now, you might already know the answer, but it’s
a good way to distract them from their bad day and
refocus their thoughts on something rehearsal specific.
Do be careful
when
you ask them—while your
director is talking would
not
be a good time—walking
back to “do it again” would be better.
#3
–
Be sure to be the band member you’d want
them to be
. If actions speak louder than words, don’t
get sucked into their negativity. Be the example, the
role model, the leader who makes things happen and
always KICKs IT IN!
What To Do When The Performer
Next To You Just Doesn’t Care?
Fran Kick
Fran Kick is an author, educational consultant and professional speaker who knows What Makes Kids KICK! Since taking an educational
leave of absence from teaching band at Centerville High School (Ohio), he has developed his part-time speaking adventure into a full-time
mission. Today, Fran presents programs across the U.S. and Canada to thousands of college/university, high school, junior high/middle school
students, plus the many people who work with them. In addition, he has been a clinician at TBA the past two years. www.kickitin.com/tba He
has his B.A. in Music Education and a M.A. in Educational Psychology.