Page 19 - 2018-BMR-April

Artist Teachers

with all region and all state band auditions. Somewhere refined…check! OK, it a week until contest so let’s start
in there we performed a couple of obligatory concerts making some music. How sad.
for the parents and community. Today I would propose Let’s begin with the premise that we don’t wait until a
that the only thing that has really changed in Texas over child is potty trained, can walk and talk, tie his/her own
the past five decades is perhaps the addition of the honor shoes and feed him/herself before we introduce that child
band selection process and more sophisticated rubrics to the abstract but incomparable, human qualities of love,
and scoring systems for all things respect, selflessness, compassion and
competitive. Certainly we have so on. I would argue that is exactly
refined our approaches to pedagogy, TBA Featured Clinician what we do when we worship at
pushed the envelope in terms of Richard Floyd the altar of accuracy, precision and
technical dexterity, embraced many will present craft without any deference to the
developments in technology, and yes, human, emotional, artistic qualities
enriched our repertoire. All good! “The Three E’s of Rehearsal: of music. I submit to you the notion
Unfortunately, at the end of the day, Better Ways to that we should be about the business
we are essentially still “teaching to Work Your Band” of artistry and “making music” from
the test” and measuring our successes and the very beginning.
and failures with the same means we “Do You Hear So what can we do to recalibrate
have embraced for decade. In short, our trajectory? What are some
we are victims of our culture. What I Hear?” elements in our culture that we
Am I proposing a radical change in with the Austin Symphonic can tweak to deepen the musical
our culture? Absolutely not! So much Band demo group experiences of our students? In short,
of what we do has served us well, at the TBA convention. how do we cut through the clutter of
but I would submit to you that if we notes and rhythms and give students
want to firmly establish ourselves in a truly musical moment?
the mainstream of essential education we need to “get to One possibility is to consider slightly modifying our
the art of the matter.” We need to be more engaged with the point of view when standing before our students in a
emotional elements of music and the intangible essence of rehearsal setting. To be honest I resist the temptation of
why music is core to a well-rounded education. going to a rehearsal obsessed with technique, rhythm,
So what to do? I think there are a number of strategies tuning or any other elements of craft. While important—
that can help us enhance our focus and perhaps expand and yes, essential—they are not my first priority. As a
our culture to embrace the artistry of what we do as result I like to believe that my ears hear differently. I am
passionately as we embrace the craft of what we do. immediately listening to and for the music. How does
First and foremost we must accept the reality that it go? What are the musical qualities and emotional
you can have craft without art, but you can’t have underpinning that must be paramount if we are to go
art without craft. ‘Nough said! The nuts and bolts beyond the notes on the page and give our students
must be addressed. Yes, they do count, but they are not “goose bump moments” that are the essence of musical
the end result or culmination of our efforts. This is not artistry? My quest is to instill those emotional qualities in
an incremental process that follows a predetermined the students from the very beginning even as I address the
predictable regimen. Band in tune…check! Rhythms objective, quantifiable and measurable issues of musical
correct…check! Balance addressed…check! Tone quality performance.

Bandmasters Review • April 2018 17 Texas Bandmasters Association