Stand on your Standards! (Teacher Edition)

The student version of this blog post was a few weeks ago and can be seen here.

What is a standard? Here is one of the Merriam-Webster definitions of "standard."

Standard "noun"

3a - something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example

3b - a level or quality, achievement, performance, etc., that is considered acceptable or desirable.

Standards are like stairs. They take you higher.

Looking at these definitions, do you agree? Do you disagree? What would you change? Overall I agree with them but I am going to combine the definitions into one statement - "Something and/or a level (quality, achievement, performance) that is considered acceptable or desirable as a model or example."

So why are we talking about standards right now? Because we are about to start band camp and this is where we can really set the standards for the entire season. Setting standards early is so very important because it really sets the tone for the entire season. You get to decide what is acceptable now and reinforce it during the most contact hours you will have.

Yes, you read that right. Band camp is the most consecutive contact hours you will have the entire season. Depending on how long band camp is, it could be most of your hours as well. Take this as an example which is a pretty normal schedule for a lot of bands in my area.

School A does 3 weeks of band camp. Let's say it is two weeks of 9am-5pm and one week of 9am-9pm. If each meal break is an hour long, that is 120 hours of rehearsal in those 3 weeks. Now, let's say School A does three 3 hour rehearsals a week after band camp totally 9 hours of rehearsal. It will take 13 weeks to have 117 hours of rehearsal. Depending on when band camp is, the rest of season after camp may not be 13 weeks long.

So based on that you can see how setting your ensemble standards early is important. However, you have to be about the standards and not just talk about the standards. The easiest way to lose an ensemble is to not hold everyone to the same standard. This is can be difficult, especially at band camp, because when we think standards we think of execution/clarity. While that is an important standard, I don't think it is one that we really need to focus on early on. In fact, I think it is a byproduct of having high standards that everyone can achieve regardless of experience.

The standards I usually focus on are

1. Being Present and on Time

2. Giving your Best Effort

3. Being Attentive / Catching Instructions

These are things that freshmen up to seniors can all achieve at the same level. If we are successful at making these things important, then the probablity of the ensemble being good go up exponentially. I have never had a student give their very best effort all the time and not be a succesful performer. Or if I have, it was because what I was asking them to do was not realistic for their experience level.

Again, the students are present, giving their best efforts, and listening, then they will be successful in my experience. NOW....success DOES NOT mean WIN. At least not to me. I define success as growth. Did the student(s) grow as people? If yes, we were successful. did the student(s) grow as musicians? If yes, we were successful. Did the student(s) grow as members of the band community? If yes, we were successful.

We have little control over winning and losing in the band world. Some of it comes down to the schools around you. If you are in a classification with a BOA Semi-Finalist...you may not beat them even on your best day because those bands are great! That doesn't mean you aren't successful.

Again, for me if the ensemble is present/on time, giving their best effort and listening, then they are successful by our metrics.

Don't forget you have to live those standards too. If you want your students present, you have to be present. If you want your students to be on time, you probably need to be there earlier than they are. If you want your students to give their best, you have to give your best.

This doesn't mean rehearsals can't be fun. I have been know to dance at rehearsal and be silly sometimes (not often but sometimes). But I make sure to catch the instructions, and ask the students about them. Band camp days are long and hard, so those mental breaks are important but they can't be checking out.

So what makes your standards important to you as a teacher? Your best season and/or year, starts now...NOT after it has already started. So figure out the standards you want to stand on and how to make them important to your ensemble. Let's crush this next year together!