The Long Term Influence
of an Educator
As a retired music educator it recently was brought to my attention that often, while you are totally involved in your career, you often don’t realize the long term impact you might have on your students.
As a band director there is a constant, never ending “to do” list. You never have a true down time for you to reflect on the past year as the next is looming and eminent. There is no “season” for a band director, or for any educator for that matter. It is NOT a nine month “with the summers off” gig. It is a 12 month season with maybe, if you are lucky, a couple of weeks to get out of town with your family. Even then it takes half of that time to key down and the rest to rev back up for what’s coming next.
After I retired for the second time I still didn’t really comprehend the things you have done during your career that might have motivated or influenced your students for a lifetime. Often you may never be aware of how that little gesture, encouragement, push or suggestion might just be the thing a student may hold on to throughout their own career, no matter their vocation.
Recently I had the honor to attend a retirement concert of a former student. (Wow, does that make one feel old!) It had been over 37 years since I had this individual in high school band, jazz band, music theory, musical pit orchestra, small ensembles and pep band. Always an excellent student and musician with a winning personality, these attributes continued throughout his college years and beyond. Ultimately becoming an extremely successful music educator not only within his school district but on the state level.
While in attendance at the retirement celebration and concert, it was expressed several times the small gestures, practices and habits I had exhibited, had stayed with him for over 30 years! This brought to the forefront the impact you, as an educator, can have on the lives of your students. There is truly a ripple effect from your influence.
After several days of reflection on this retirement concert event, I was reminded of the positive life skills that are encouraged and strengthened not only in band but any performing ensemble. Research has shown that students who participate music ensembles develop numerous life-long skills applicable to any career path they choose.
As you deal with the never ending “to do” list, the faculty meetings, parent/teacher conferences, lesson plans and a plethora of other responsibilities of your position, just remember:
You do make a difference!
When you are asked, “How do you create such wonderful concerts, marching band shows, jazz concerts, energetic pep bands?” I’m gussing you quote as Kevin Hart in that insurance commercial, “It’s what I do.” But your students absorb, assimilate and build on techniques and practices you exhibit while guiding them to improve and develop. Your teaching legacy has long term effects that you may never realize.
As my former student wrote in post-concert communication, “it was a highlight of my teaching career to be able to thank you in front of MY students … because they are really all YOUR students, right?”
How true. How true.
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Tim Baldwin Music 