Bandmasters Review - December 2019

Texas Bandmasters Association Bandmasters Review • December 2019 18 much information at once. They tend to be more successful when given a limited number of tasks with short term deadlines. When faced with long-range projects that are larger in scope, they may need help setting smaller, more immediately achievable goals to stay on track and stay motivated. In rehearsal: Level 3 thinkers rarely miss instruction, thereby contributing positively to the culture as well as the success of the rehearsal. LEVEL 4: CONSCIOUS ACCUMULATION OF KNOWLEDGE “Apply previous information” Level 4 thinkers intentionally apply previous information to the current situation. They connect with quality, and they work to develop and layer skills in pursuit of excellence for its own sake. Thinking and learning are intentional rather than byproducts of external rewards and consequences. As they accumulate knowledge and experience, they draw relationships between what was presented before and its relevance and impact on where things are headed. Though they still value honors and accolades, they don’t require these to find their motivation. As knowledge accumulates, so does the possibility of error. Level 4 thinkers take responsibility for their mistakes in anticipation of the satisfaction of overcoming them. This represents a significant change in thinking because it often delays gratification, and that foreshadows vision (a component of Level 7 thinking). In rehearsal: Level 4 thinkers intentionally apply previous information without having to be reminded. LEVEL 5: CONSCIOUS ANTICIPATION “Figure out what’s next” Lever 5 thinkers are keenly acclimated to a culture of learning. They identify not only as individual achievers, but when in a group setting, they see themselves as part of a community. They sense the motives, methods, strengths, and shortcomings of their peers as well as their superiors. They synthesize prior learning with new information and then anticipate what will come next. This engages decision making and can create a feeling of independent ownership as well as partnership in the process. They can withstand inconvenience and short-term failure in favor of an anticipated outcome. Because they are consistently engaged intellectually, Level 5 thinkers may appear reluctant during periods when results are uncertain, when there are breakdowns in procedures, or when things simply aren’t working. They respond when those in charge acknowledge problems and share the rationale driving decision-making because it appeals to their intellect and sense of involvement. Simply stated, Level 5 thinkers are forward thinkers who continuously look for more than just what they’re given. In rehearsal: Level 5 thinkers figure out where the teacher is going and work to get there first. LEVEL 6: ADAPTIVE IMITATION “Watch and copy” – “Listen and copy” Up to this point, each level of thinking built progressively upon the preceding level, but Level 6 thinking isn’t really a “level” at all because it isn’t sequential, and it isn’t necessarily tied to age, experience, or maturity. Adaptive imitation simply means that we imitate what we see, hear, and experience every day, first and foremost for survival, but also as a way of fitting into society. We all develop into whomever we become through a combination of instinct and imitation. At the earliest age, we learn to walk in part because we see others walk, and we imitate. The motivation to walk is tied to the desire for independence. Thus, we avoid having to rely on others to provide for us what we might get for ourselves. We learn to speak because we hear others, and we imitate their speech patterns. In this case, the motivation is to further our independence through enhanced self-expression, giving Levels of Thinking