My time in the Honors Mentorship Program has been spectacular. Working at NHMS couldn't have better prepared me for college and the world of Music Education. I have found during my mentorship that there is a lot of time, preparation, and practice that I have to put in to be a successful band director, but because of my experiences, I now have the knowledge I need to know how to manage my time and resources. The kids have also taught me a lot about myself and the band program. I was never the most patient human being, but because I am working with beginning musicians, I have learned how much easier life is if I just take a little more time to be sure the kids are getting it right.
When I started in the mentorship program, I was
working in a law office. At the time, I was chasing money. It wasn’t long
before I realized that no amount of money is worth sitting in a room alone
without my horn. So, I made the switch to pursue a career in music. I left the
middle school my first day thinking “Yep. This is what I’m going to spend my
entire life doing.”
I plan to use my experience in HMP to become a high school band director. I love the amount of variety there is in the
band classes in high school. My real passion as a musician is in jazz and music
history, and both of those options are available to me and the other students
who share my interests. Though the variety of a high school band is not present
in a middle school, I chose to work at North Hall Middle School for one reason:
Rob Dugan. He exemplifies all that a band director should be. He has a passion
for sharing his love and knowledge of music with his students. I learned this
through my three years as a student. He is my model for what a band director is
supposed to be. When I run my own band program, I will remember HMP and that it allowed me to be absolutely sure of what I "want to be when I grow up."
As for the students coming into HMP, I would make sure they know how much ridiculous online work there is, but also that its worth all the frustration to get to be immersed in the career for which they have a passion.
Photo taken by Rebecca Fisher
