Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • December 2014
10
Tim Lautzenheiser is a trusted friend to anyone interested in working with young people in developing a desire for excellence and a passion
for high level achievement. His career involves ten years of successful college band directing at Northern Michigan University, the University
of Missouri, and New Mexico State University. Following his tenure at the university level, he spent three years with McCormick’s Enterprises
working as Executive Director of Bands of America. In 1981, Tim created Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc., an organization designed to
manage the many requests for workshops, seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of positive attitude and
effective leadership training. Over two million students have experienced his acclaimed student leadership workshops over the last three
decades. He presently serves as Vice President of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc. In addition, he continues his rigorous travel schedule touting
the importance of arts education for every child.
His books, produced by G.I.A. Publications, Inc., continue to be bestsellers in the educational world. He is also co-author of popular band
method
Essential Elements
and is the Senior Educational Consultant for Hal Leonard, Inc. Tim is the Senior Educational Advisor for Music
for All and NAMM (The International Music Products Association).
Tim holds degrees from Ball State University and the University of Alabama. In 1995 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from
the VanderCook College of Music. He is presently an adjunct faculty member at Ball State University (Earl Dunn Distinguished Lecturer),
Indiana-Purdue/Ft. Wayne University, and Butler University. In addition, he serves on The Midwest Clinic Board of Directors and the Western
International Band Clinic/American Band College Board of Directors.
Cooperat ion Creates Victory
Instead of dangling the proverbial competitive carrot
in front of the student/s, we might be better served if
we reward and recognize their success-habits/patterns.
For example:
1. Resolving a problem.
Many students are
quick to recognize or identify problems, but there
are few who will come up with a resolution. Those
who do should be put in the spotlight and given
responsibilities within the program.
2. Being a quiet, innovative student leader.
Identify those silent few who are always finding ways to
make things better. Discover the student who, without
a hint of fanfare, is willing to help others and requires
little or no personal attention for his/her efforts. This is
a role model worth his/her weight in gold.
3. Making decisions and taking action.
There
are many who “wait to be told what to do,” then do
it remarkably well. Look for those who go one step
beyond and are willing to take a stand, make a choice,
and follow-through on their decisions; herein lies the
leader of tomorrow.
4. Loyalty.
In today’s world loyalty is a treasured
attribute. Competition is the test of one’s loyalty, not
when we win, but when we lose. To avoid the, “If
we can’t win, I quit!” attitude, reinforce the character
strength of loyalty.
Together we stand, divided we
fall.
5. Cooperation.
Nothing is impossible when a
group of individuals chooses to make cooperation the
theme of their working atmosphere. Alternatively, it is
almost impossible to move any group forward when
they are constantly competing to gain the upper hand
on their fellow performers.
It is apparent we needn’t beat another person
or persons to WIN. We simply need to improve
ourselves to experience the intrinsic victory that is a
result of learning, growing,
becoming
. To this end, let
us continue to support one another in the ongoing
exploration of artistic expression and realize the value
of competition is merely a stepping stone for our
students to witness others who share a similar passion.
When all is said and done, we must
band together
if we
ever hope to attain true victory.