Get Others Involved, Part 1B: Older Students

In Part 1 of this series, I admittedly focused on getting younger students involved in the process of running a music department. But of course a more significant level of leadership training occurs in junior high and high school.

When I was in high school I served for two years as the Student Director of the jazz festival we hosted. That responsibility made a big impression on me. Although the band director could have done much of my work himself, I took pride in his trust in me. It was a major growing experience for me and I will always remember it.

When I took my first teaching position as a high school band director, I continued the student leadership positions (Band Council) which the previous director established. If I had it to do over again, I would probably expand the students’ responsibilities and generally take a more proactive approach to leadership development. I would also increase the number of student leadership positions to involve more students.

High schoolers have a broad range of talents which they’re ready and anxious to use. Those with artistic talents can do anything from designing band t-shirts to concert program covers. Those who are active in sports can be used to serve as liasons between the music department and athletics. Those with computer skills can create or maintain music department web pages. These responsibilities don’t have to be limited to music students either. Why not think outside the box and ask the video production teacher to assign a student to film performances and events? Why not invite the home ec department to sell baked goods at music events, or serve refreshments at a band boosters meeting?

I would love to hear from some readers who have active student leaders to get your insight on this subject.

Get Others Involved, Part 1: Students

In my first year of teaching, as overwhelmed as I was, I was too much of a control freak to allow others to help with certain tasks in running the music program. I’ve since learned that there is great mutual benefit in getting others involved.

This post is part 1 of 3. In other posts, I write about getting parents and other staff involved. Here, I’ll share some thoughts about students’ help.

Students are capable of helping a lot more than we (or I!) might give them credit. Even elementary students can help with the more mundane tasks of sharpening pencils, putting away chairs, folding concert programs, and sorting papers like sheet music or practice records. I often think of one music teacher colleague who is brilliant at getting students to help him with just about any task. Even if the task is a complete no-brainer, it gives students a chance to get involved and feel they have contributed something. (“Here, hold this pencil for me.” “Can you hold the door open while I move this box?”) Plus, working together gives you a chance to connect with students on a non-musical level and let them know you are interested in their lives.

A youth leader from my junior high days often comes to mind. He was a very charismatic person, and kids often talked about how much he influenced their lives. Later, as an adult, I had the chance to talk with him about what he attributed his success to.  He told me, in effect, that he never passed up an opportunity to make an impression on kids. He said whenever possible, he tried to take kids with him wherever he went and create teachable moments. “Even on a trip to the grocery store, you can have a meaningful conversation with someone if you try.”

Of course times have changed, and I wouldn’t advise teachers to hang out with students off campus like this. His role as a youth pastor was different than a school music teacher, but I think the principle still has application. I often have students who come to the music room before or after school looking for a place to hang out. I can pretty safely bet they haven’t come for a lesson in building harmonic minor scales or refining their embouchures. They have probably come because you provide a safe environment where students are free to learn and grow and be themselves.

Do you have specific ways you involve students in running your music program? Share your ideas with the world here!