It has been a few weeks now since my last real post. In that time I have been writing marching band, had WGI Finals, done a drum corps camp, had marching band clinics, prepped for concerts, taught classes, done 5th grade instrument tryouts, and planned for next year. Now, I say that because this is a busy time for everyone and I have had one specific thing on my mind as I am working through all the above mentioned activities. Taking time to recognize growth - my personal growth, the student's growth, and the program's growth. Taking this time, especially now as I spend A LOT of time stressed out, helps me to recognize that good things are happening, which also helps me evaluate my thoughts and plans for upcoming things. So let's take a look.
Personal Growth
Honestly, this is always the one I have a hard time looking at because I always feel like this gives me the least to "show." However, my professional life (aka writing business) has fully recovered and actually grown since 2020. I feel like 2021/22 was my most creative year as well. Which also made it my most fulfilling year too. I also took this year to remove toxic things from my life. This simple (not so simple actually) step, has lead to so much more positivity in my life. The nice thing about feeling more positive is that it actually makes you more positive (who would have thought! haha). At least most of the time.
The last thing I am going to take about in terms of personal growth, is the investment I have made in myself. In years past I have alway burnt the candle at both ends for every season. Burn through the winter season, then a week or 2 off to breathe, then burn through drum corps/band camp season, then breathe for a few days, then burn through the fall season, breathe for a week or 2 and then start the whole process all over again. I told myself this year, that I would take some time for me when needed. Now, this is not a break in the cycle but a bunch of small things in the cycle. For instance, when I don't need to be up at 7am, I sleep in until 8 or 9am. If I don't have a pressing deadline approaching, I will allow myself to take a day, or part of a day, off to relax. This has allowed me to make additional investments such as this blog, learning more about sound design and reading.
Students Growth
Another honest moment here...when it comes to growth in general, I have a hard time taking a minute to recognize it when things are in motion. Like we are in concert prep right now, and I have a ton of energy in trying to make that happen. So I have been forcing myself when I get most stressed to stop, breathe and reflect on the last year. I think this is where I am always the most shocked in terms of growth. I say that because as a season/year, goes on our expectations usually go up with them. As that happens, I know my stress level usually stays consistent, or increases. However, over the past 2 weeks I have been generally impressed by my students, especially those in our 2nd and 3rd bands. For the first time that I can remember, we were really prepared for a concert more than a day in advance. In addition to that our 2nd band has a piece that they are playing that we (the percussion section) didn't spend a ton of time prepping, and the students are crushing it! A year ago, if we didn't work on it it definitely wasn't happening.
Program Growth
I feel like this is the most easily measurable sense of growth, but still hard to acknowledge in the moment. The marching band went to MSBA Championships for the first time since combining. The winter percussion ensemble participated in WGI and was a finalist. We did our first percussion ensemble concert since I have been at West Clermont. Last year, the band submitted a recording to OMEA for their Virtual Large Group and were awarded a Superior Rating. Symphonic 1 returned to the Music for All Regional Concert Band Festival this year. But even more important than all those accolades (and the recognition is awesome), every group is just flat out better than they were a year ago. Accolades/awards, or not, that is what we are working for and that is what we need to recognize the most.
I always feel like this time of year is crazy for everyone. As we are in this chaotic time I would encourage you take a little time to reflect on the growth of yourself, whatever program you are involved with and the individuals that are involved in that program. I know it helps to center me and help me plan for the upcoming year. Now...time to shove my face back into a laptop to write marching band music until the next breathe I need to take.
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