Page 5 - 2018-BMR-September

Back To School

detectors are more present, security vestibules are being me to give my peers, it would be to “stay the course” and
built at the fronts of schools to check in visitors, doors are continue to provide for your community what they desire
locked more than ever and constantly checked to see that most; a quality band experience. Your ability to press
they remain locked and schools are now holding active forward and provide a place for students to connect with
shooter drills. Clear backpacks for school children and each other and build a skill as a musician is a necessary
clear bag policies for athletic stadiums are also now the component for us to make progress as a society. One thing
norm. To think that I was at a meeting recently to discuss that hasn’t changed over time is the healing power of music.
typical logistics for hosting UIL marching band contest, The ability for us to pass on that deeper appreciation of
and we had to come up with a plan for how to enforce music through our lessons and our “lessons” in the band
these clear bag policies for a marching band contest. This hall that will ensure that we continue to teach empathy for
conversation about school and student safety summed up others and drives us to be more compassionate community
many of our first two weeks of school. members. Be the difference!
I hope that our students continue to find that their All my best for an “extra ordinary” 2018-2019 school
schools, and most especially their band halls, will always year!
be a “safe” place for them. If ever there was any advice for

HAWAII

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Bandmasters Review • September 2018 3 Texas Bandmasters Association
www.tm oursandtravel.com PO BOX 1482 SAN JUAN, TX 78589 PH: 956-984-9468 FAX: 956-783-4931