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Mentors and Mentoring: The Key to Professional Success

Whether by coincidence, providence, serendipity, or The next five years (undergraduate and graduate degrees)
just pure dumb luck, I opened the outside door to enter were spent working with and learning from MY MENTOR:
the hallway and there stood EARL DUNN, the Director of MR. DUNN. His desire for excellence stood second only
Bands. He smiled and asked, “How are you doing?” to his demand for excellence. Both on and off the podium,
Caught off guard, I managed to nervously respond, “Just Mr. Dunn created quality experiences for all those who
fine, Sir.” were part of the program. He never faltered in his quest to
He put his hand on my shoulder and inquired, “You’re achieve the highest standards possible…once attained, he
one of the new people in the band, aren’t you?’ (I couldn’t would then invite us to reach even higher. He never made
believe he remembered me!) excuses or accepted excuses; they were not allowed as part
“Yes, Sir…and it’s a great band, Mr. Dunn. It’s better of his payment plan.
than anything I’ve ever heard. My high school band wasn’t Who gained the most from this experience? Was it the
anything like your band. I just hope I can keep up with MENTEE or the MENTOR? The answer is: YES.
everyone.” Teachers come and go, but MENTORS become part of
He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Of course you our fabric, members of our families, and their thoughts are
can keep up. YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO evident in every decision we make.
DO IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE.” He spun Here’s to successful mentoring for all; it’s certainly worth
around and headed to his office. PAYING THE PRICE!
I stood motionless as his advice echoed LOUDLY in my
mind: YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT TO DO “…Strike Up the Band…”
IF YOU ARE WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE. His wisdom
served as a lifeline to one who was drowning in a sea of
educational desperation. My assumed conclusion of not
being able live my dream was NOT the issue. The real
introspective question was: Would I PAY THE PRICE to
live my dream?

—
Hear more from Dr. Tim
“It’s About Time”

on Thursday, July 25
at 1 pm

Following his tenure in the college band directing world, Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser created Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc., an organization designed to manage the
many requests for teacher inservice workshops, student leadership seminars, and convention speaking engagements focusing on the area of effective leadership training. To
date, some three million students have experienced one of his popular sessions. Tim presently serves as Vice President of Education for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He is a nationally
recognized voice touting the importance of arts education for every child. His books, produced by G.I.A. Publications, Inc., continue to be bestsellers in the educational
community. Tim is also the Senior Educational Advisor for Music for All, and NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants). He holds degrees from Ball State
University and the University of Alabama. In 1995 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the VanderCook College of Music. He continues to teach as an adjunct
faculty member at Ball State University, Indiana-Purdue/Ft. Wayne University, and Butler University. In addition, he is a member of the Midwest Clinic Board of Directors
and the Western International Band Clinic/American Band College Board of Directors. He is presently the Chair of the National Association for Music Education Music
Honor Society (Tri-M).

Bandmasters Review • June 2019 18 Texas Bandmasters Association