Make it Cool & People Will Do It

Make it Cool –  People Will Do It

I started teaching in 1998 and by the summer of 2000 I was working as a HS/MS band director in Indiana.  The band program I inherited had certainly seen better days and the enrollment for summer band was only around 30 kids or so.  It became immediately evident that the students remaining in the program were AMAZING kids – they just needed a sense of purpose.  We actually had a great summer that year and soon the school year began.

I suppose it was at that time in my life that I really started to self reflect and use the reflection process as an actual tool for improvement.  Knowing that the program in current form wasn’t appealing to kids – how could we break through the norms and make this band fun again?  I literally made two decisions — 1) we weren’t going to do anything that made us look stupid and 2) I would promote, bill, book, talk to, and treat the kids like they were the coolest cats on the block.  The idea being that if they (the kid musicians) began to believe they were cool – they would in essence become super cool.  Let me tell you — not only did they become cool – but they’re still cool after all these years.

Here’s an example of the process.  The predictable norm for a HS band during football season is to go out on the field and perform some sort of show for the fans.  Some may call that cool – but it wasn’t working for our kids.  Instead – we built a platform for the drum kit – hauled out the guitars and rocked out from the stands.  Not only did we musically take a different path – but the seniors made weekly decisions as to what our costumed attire would be for the Friday night game.  We were dressed crazy every week. Toga, Pirate, and Superhero – you never knew what was going to show up on Friday night.  Dressed in a toga blasting out funk tunes is always going to seem more appealing in comparison to a band uniform.  During basketball season we “auditioned” a group and set up right underneath the basketball goal on the floor.  We had rhythm section, horns, and vocalists performing some serious R&B tunes.  Those were some really great times and I truly do miss them!  That accomplished decision #1 – make band cool and not look stupid.  Step #2 occurred on a daily basis in the classroom and in the halls.

If you tell someone they’re awesome – just enough – they will truly believe it.  The self-fulfilling prophecy rings true for sure.  Every day (well – most days) I would remind the band kids how awesome they truly were.  I tried my best to treat the students like the young men and women they were.   You have to remember that kids are kids and every once and awhile you’re going to have to get a little “jiggy” and “coach” students on life, behavior, etc…  In all reality, I didn’t have to make up the fact that these kids were cool – they really were.  We had students who – once they figured it out and became comfortable with themselves – had more musical talent in their pinky finger then I ever will.

As time went on – the enrollment in the band program skyrocketed and we were literally out of space in our room.  What an AMAZING problem to have.  Many of these kids are still playing music today.  Some for fun – some for money — but they’re still playing and appreciating music!  That’s the ultimate cool.

Keep Playing Kids – Keep Appreciating Music Kids – You will always be cool!