What Made Me a Good Band Director Today:
I said during warm-ups as I played piano, “forgive me if I mess up”, and a student piped up “What? You don’t know how to play piano?”. I ignored it and when he asked me again after warm-ups I said, “What do you think I just did?” If he says something like that again perhaps I will give him a hard look and say, “I will give you another try at that statement to say something uplifting and Christ-like.”
I was calm when students didn’t do exactly as I would have liked them to. I simply waited patiently and tried it again.
I didn’t argue with students. I simply told them what’s what. I even said at one point, “Nathan, I am the teacher and you are the student. What I say goes.”
They started to chant “veto” on a new song and I stopped class and calmly said, “I know we vetoed songs last year but we are not going to be doing that anymore. I chose this song and it is my decision as to whether or not we play it.”
Two students said, “How are we supposed to play it if we can’t even say it?” I ignored the statement and they played it fine. I will ignore statements that are not worthy of my time to explain to those who are disrespectful. Perhaps if someone keeps asking me something in a rude manner I will say, “I’m sorry, but I only answer questions that are presented in a respectful manner.”
I didn’t take it unless it was sufficient. If somebody messed up on scales, we did it again. If somebody did something that was not written, we did it again.
I told the kids after they went “ugggghhhhhh” after I said, “scales one last time”: “You know, Ephesians 4:12 isn’t just about being kind to your classmates, but being kind to me as well. It is unkind to act like that when I ask you to do something. You are to be kind to me as well.”
I can’t help but worry incessantly about what they’re going to say tomorrow and how I’m going to defend myself. I will remember these things:
1. Fix the behavior, then find out the why later
2. “I will you give you another try at that statement but you are to replace it with something uplifting and Christ-like”
3. There can’t be conflict in my room- because it is MY room and conflict can only happen between two equal parties
4. Keep your humor, have fun, but do not take disrespect from ANYBODY
5. If you see bullying, you MUST stop it right there and then
6. You are not perfect. Trust God to give you the words to say at the right time.