Turtle sadness

Saturday. Today was just beautiful! The sky was so blue and gorgeous! I got my haircut at 11:30, then had lunch at El Sombrero on Gray Hwy. and then went by Bibb Music to get concert band folders. Poor Bibb. They never have what I need. i wish they'd get a little more on the ball. I could go to Bill Hardin, but they aren't getting my business if I can help it!

So Friday night. At the end of the game, the tubas played some song we never practiced . The drums joined in. How to handle that? I need to spend the whole day tomorrow planning my response. My response to this may be the most important thing I ever do. What they did was wrong. Period. You don't play whatever you feel like playing. That is putting YOU ahead of WE. And you certainly do perform something you never practiced. That's just unprofessional in every way. That is my message. They are not bad children. They do not need to be kicked out of band. There are some students who do need to be kicked out of band, but these kids are those students. But they need a strong message that we do not do what we want to do. We follow the rules. We put the needs of the group ahead of the needs of ourselves.

So you know? I'm back to that sqaure--the band is dying. It lived to be four years old. The people who started the band and went through all the hard, really hard work, to make it a successful organization are killing the band. How ironic is that? Michael Hanner loves the band more than he loves life itself, but he has sent a message to his tuba brothers that it's ok to play whatever you feel like playing--just do it! Cameron Roberson is a great student, but his silliness and lack of focus affect the entire brass section. Jasmine Habersham is now in her second year of putting band last--she missed nearly every Thursday rehearsal last year and is missing every Thursdays rehearsal this year. Same thing for Ashley Fletcher. These are the best kids in the whole world, but they are killing their band. Chris Steinberg destroyed the drum section, quit, and is now back. I can't even begin to imagine what kind of message that sends to students. Samantha Brown quit the band and is back. Did we have a revolving door put on the band room that I didn't know about?

I was thinking about my career at Rutland again today. I saw my beautfiul Rutland shirt laying on my bed and started thinking. I love Rutland. I love the school colors. I love the fact that our mascot is not an animal or Indian--it's a weather phenemenon. I love what the band has accomplished in four years. There is really so much I love. The band has truly established itself as a great organization. I've never known anyone who didn't have an over-the-top reaction to our band. It's wonderful! It's so fulfilling. But can I do this for 8 more years? I know 8 years isn't very long--it will be over before I know it. But can I really do it?

Oh well. Just things I need to think about. Miss Carr stayed at NJHS until she retired LONG after that program died. I mean, it hit SUCH a high point and then died. But it was always outstanding. I suppose Rutland could hit its high point this year (but maybe it was LAST year!) and then I can just work at maintaining excellence, even if it's on an easier level.

Continuing to think.