Comments on: We are a profession, so let’s be professional. http://travisjweller.com/2008/10/we-are-a-profession-so-lets-be-professional/ Advocate, Composer, Conductor, Educator Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:09:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: tjweller http://travisjweller.com/2008/10/we-are-a-profession-so-lets-be-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-118 tjweller Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:30:42 +0000 http://tjweller.wordpress.com/?p=84#comment-118 Thanks for stopping by. I could not agree more with your final statements. I have spoke with colleagues in the profession who specifically talk about they don’t want their kids studying with a “rival” director. I do not fear my students getting out and studying with someone else - I encourage it. So many times they return to our rehearsals with a new perspective, new ideas, and even new appreciation for how our program works. Different students have come back and offered warm-up suggestions, articulation exercises, or perspectives on pieces we are rehearsing. It has really served to make our program stronger because we now have a new lens to analyze strengths and weaknesses of our program. When we demonstrate that open attitude to our students, it basically tells all of them "This music that we make and study is bigger than all of us. We must find the best way to do it. Not you, not me - we must find the best way." Well said Steve! Thanks for stopping by. I could not agree more with your final statements. I have spoke with colleagues in the profession who specifically talk about they don’t want their kids studying with a “rival” director. I do not fear my students getting out and studying with someone else – I encourage it. So many times they return to our rehearsals with a new perspective, new ideas, and even new appreciation for how our program works. Different students have come back and offered warm-up suggestions, articulation exercises, or perspectives on pieces we are rehearsing. It has really served to make our program stronger because we now have a new lens to analyze strengths and weaknesses of our program. When we demonstrate that open attitude to our students, it basically tells all of them “This music that we make and study is bigger than all of us. We must find the best way to do it. Not you, not me – we must find the best way.” Well said Steve!

]]> By: Stengel99 http://travisjweller.com/2008/10/we-are-a-profession-so-lets-be-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Stengel99 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 01:54:04 +0000 http://tjweller.wordpress.com/?p=84#comment-117 There has been a lot of talk recently about the pointlessness of sarcasm. It's rude at best and destructive at its worst, and intolerable when coming from a teacher and directed at a student. (I'm not sure if this was one of your main beefs, but it is one a lot of people share.) One thing that has always amazed me about musicians and music teachers is how willing they are to share their knowledge. I remember once when I was probably about jr. high age wondering why my teacher was giving me so much great information. Wasn't he afraid that someday I would grow up and be a better saxophone player than him?!? My teachers' openness and willingness to teach was one of the qualities that attracted me to the profession. Travis, you never know what encouragement you might give to a student that will have an impact lasting longer than you might imagine. There has been a lot of talk recently about the pointlessness of sarcasm. It’s rude at best and destructive at its worst, and intolerable when coming from a teacher and directed at a student. (I’m not sure if this was one of your main beefs, but it is one a lot of people share.)

One thing that has always amazed me about musicians and music teachers is how willing they are to share their knowledge. I remember once when I was probably about jr. high age wondering why my teacher was giving me so much great information. Wasn’t he afraid that someday I would grow up and be a better saxophone player than him?!? My teachers’ openness and willingness to teach was one of the qualities that attracted me to the profession. Travis, you never know what encouragement you might give to a student that will have an impact lasting longer than you might imagine.

]]> By: tjweller http://travisjweller.com/2008/10/we-are-a-profession-so-lets-be-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-116 tjweller Fri, 17 Oct 2008 04:50:26 +0000 http://tjweller.wordpress.com/?p=84#comment-116 Thanks for stopping by Varden. You are definitely one in our profession that sees the big picture, and I appreciate your insight and support. Best of luck as your year continues to roll on! Thanks for stopping by Varden. You are definitely one in our profession that sees the big picture, and I appreciate your insight and support. Best of luck as your year continues to roll on!

]]> By: Varden Armstrong http://travisjweller.com/2008/10/we-are-a-profession-so-lets-be-professional/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Varden Armstrong Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:35:23 +0000 http://tjweller.wordpress.com/?p=84#comment-115 Thanks for a great post Travis. I very much agree with you about professionalism. I am continually working at these same qualities as an educator. Each year of teaching brings a greater understanding and opportunity for growth as a professional. Thanks again for your thoughts and reminding me of some things I have on my "to do" list. Thanks for a great post Travis. I very much agree with you about professionalism. I am continually working at these same qualities as an educator. Each year of teaching brings a greater understanding and opportunity for growth as a professional. Thanks again for your thoughts and reminding me of some things I have on my “to do” list.

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