Page 15 - 2019 BMR April

Thank You for All the 2s

Darcy Vogt Williams

In our current era of post-UIL “We expect a tone different from what they sit back and enjoy performances.”
Made a 1” selfies and Facebook posts, were giving me. I cornered many band Thank God…
I’m going to put this out there: directors in the months and years that 2010: 111, 111 ooh…consistency!
I’ve made a 2… lots of 2s. followed (still today) to improve how I “Enthusiasm in some sections—like
was approaching my tubas—occasionally
• I made All State Band twice, and I’ve clarinets to achieve When the UIL grading created ‘splatty’
made a 2. a characteristic tone scale was originally tone qualities.” I
• I graduated Summa Cum Laude, and not detract from have had to address
and once I started teaching, I made 2s. the hard work of the developed, the intent “enthusiasm” every
• My bands have played at Midwest rest of my band. was not to boost or year and constantly
and WIBC, and I’ve made 2s…many 2s. 2008 was my destroy our egos. remind myself that
• My bands have been State Finalists fourth year teaching Instead, our founders middle school kids
in Honor Band the last two times, and and first year as a sought to give band are indeed capable
I’ve made 2s… lots of them. head director. I of controlling their
finally had it figured directors a set of “enthusiasm”… Yes,
I whole-heartedly believe there is out! We prepared musical standards let’s call it that.
a level of determination, humility, very carefully. I had for which to aim and Just when I
resilience, work ethic, maturity, and brought out mentor constructive criticism thought I had the
appreciation that only comes after teachers to hear and designed to improve hang of UIL, in 2011
you have received a 2 and reinvented critique my band. As I got a 111, 122. You
something about your teaching. we concluded our how we teach our might remember the
I took my first band to contest in warm up, I told my students. sightreading piece
2006. I got straight 2s. “Never louder kids how proud I that year. Many of
than lovely,” and “always balance to was of all their hard work and then us do… Sometimes the best lesson
the melody” were written all over gave my band the final words of you learn from UIL is not how to
my comment sheets. Listening to the encouragement that will stick with me better prepare but how to address
tape (the cassette tape) afterward, it forever and never cross my lips again: disappointment with maturity, grace,
was painfully obvious how right they “Now go out there and leave it all on and honesty.
were. I spent every concert preparation the stage!” Never tell middle school Every 1 I have received from 2012
thereafter making sure my kids knew brass players to leave it all on the on has been the product of taking all
what the melody was and layering stage… because they do. “Brass – no, the 2s I’ve ever received to heart and
underneath. no, no! Beautiful sounds always! Never changing something important about
In 2007 I walked to sight reading create excitement through volume!” how I teach. I was hurt, embarrassed,
positive we deserved a 1 on stage. 222, 111. and thankful for each of them.
Instead, I got a 122, 222. “Clarinet In 2009 I finally found the balance When the UIL grading scale was
tone spread”, “clarinets are unfocused between good teaching and mature originally developed, the intent was not
particularly above the break”, and performance preparation. Five years to boost or destroy our egos. Instead,
“clarinet tuning will improve when into my career I received my first our founders sought to give band
tone does”… I realized I didn’t know sweepstakes. “Superior band, well directors a set of musical standards
what tone I should be hearing from taught.” “Wonderful job of musical for which to aim and constructive
my clarinet section, or that I could interpretation.” “This was one of those criticism designed to improve how

Bandmasters Review • April 2019 13 Texas Bandmasters Association