Page 16 - 2019 BMR April

Thank You for All the 2s

we teach our students. What we do with those ratings is argue that matching note length is optional or that unison
another story. tuning or characteristic tone production are negligible
Instead of viewing anything less than a 1 as a failure, aspects of music. We are the trained musicians, and it is
(after we cry and the red of our cheeks fades back to sanity) our job to make these non-negotiables for our students as
we should approach our UIL ratings as a checkpoint in well. This can only be accomplished if we pick music in
our teaching and not an isolated performance. We have which the basic demands of the music are developmentally
all told our students at one point or another that UIL is a appropriate for our students so that we can focus on all
single snapshot of their abilities, and while that is true, that aspects of the musical performance, not just the notes and
snapshot is still the culmination of months of preparation. rhythms.
That performance is the result of your fundamental block 5) Now, I need you to read this in the most loving
since August. Those three pieces demonstrate everything voice you can imagine… Stop making excuses for
you hold important in your teaching. So what can we do? why your students cannot accurately perform the
1) What issues appear consistently through my skills mentioned on your critique sheets and look
critique sheets? If all three stage judges are commenting for solutions. If we are going to take credit for all of the
on the same problem, it is a problem. And it’s probably a wonderful things our students can do, we must also take
problem every day. credit for all of the things they cannot. Your students only
2) What can I do starting tomorrow that will address know how to do what you require them to do. If you do
this issue long term? Is there a new fundamental exercise not require staccato, they will not perform staccato. If you
I can incorporate into my daily drill? Do I simply need to do not work on tuning in rehearsal, they will not tune
prioritize my listening during rehearsal to truly require during a performance. If balance is not addressed daily,
myself to expect that skill to improve? Is this a problem I they won’t think about it when they get nervous. We may
can prevent through my beginner teaching? not be able to control what happens when they leave the
3) Who can I ask to help me better teach a skill? Is band hall, but we can directly control what is addressed
there a master teacher I can invite to come listen to and while they sit in front of us.
work with my band? Is there a master teacher I can send a I once watched a band director tear up their UIL sheets
recording to and ask for feedback or ideas on how to better in front of the band and proclaim, “That’s what I think of
address the skills I struggle to teach? their 2s.” The band cheered. I was horrified. If I want my
4) Did I pick music that was so difficult I could only students to take my constructive and thoughtful criticism
work on notes and rhythms? The UIL critique sheet to heart for the betterment of their musicianship, I can
specifically mentions 18 different musical skills we should only hold myself to the same standard. The purpose of
be incorporating into our daily teaching, and only two of UIL is not to feed my ego or that of my program with
those are notes and rhythms. While “teaching to the test” another trophy, but it is a lot easier to take great pride in
is a four-letter word, teaching to our UIL Concert standards my work when I know that I am holding my teaching and
is just good musicianship. No trained musician would my students to the standards of good musicianship.

Darcy Vogt Williams is the head director at Stiles Middle School in Leander ISD. Since opening Stiles in 2012, her Honors Band has performed at
the Midwest Clinic in 2015, placed 3rd at TMEA CC Honor Band in 2015, and placed 7th at TMEA CCC Honor Band in 2017. Darcy is a graduate
of West Texas A&M University. When not teaching she loves working with power tools, gardening, traveling with her husband, and playing with their
daughter Caroline.

Bandmasters Review • April 2019 14 Texas Bandmasters Association