The deadline is always looming. As soon as one is reached another is waiting. One concert then another, one recital then another.

Would you educate any differently if there were no deadlines?

By “The Deadline” I mean concerts, contests, recitals. Performances are beneficial to the overall educational curriculum when used for a purpose, but why is there a specific formula for these performances? In the band program we start with a Christmas concert, usually as soon as marching band season is finished. We use after school rehearsals in some situations because the marching season extends into November. We then prepare a winter concert, district festival, spring concert, pep band and sometimes another special event at the end of the year. It seems there is not much thought to this model, but the way it’s been done for many years. “The parents expect it, the community expects it,” some would say. There is certainly benefit to the young musician getting multiple performance opportunities, but because we go from one deadline to the next so quickly, do the students miss out on gaining TRUE understanding in all areas of music?

I am a firm believer that at least 90% of students that sit in class and seem disinterested are actually lost. They missed out on information along the way, and over time it compounds. Each little deficiency is like a snowball rolling down a hill and eventually turns into low confidence and self esteem which finally turns into dislike.

If “The Deadline” didn’t exist would your education look different?

When the deadline is approaching education becomes about the deadline. Usually extra rehearsals are scheduled. There seems to never be enough time to get the piece sounding as good we would like. It becomes more about us and less about the students. Student deficiency is pushed to the back and the deadline becomes the most important thing. Each deadline creates more small deficiencies because there are so many things educators cannot get to. Why so many deadlines? 

Lets STOP for a second, before we schedule more concerts, look at the students in front of us and ask “What do these students need?” “What do my students have trouble with and what do they not understand?” Design each year differently depending on exactly what the student needs in order to be the highest level musician possible. Is it 4-6 weeks of just rhythm? Is it inviting professionals in to work with every instrument and not rehearsing the entire band for 2 months? Is it performing for each other in class and listening to professional ensembles? Is it providing varying opportunities for your students so the large ensemble becomes less of the norm? Is it less deadlines?

I am sure it is different for each program or studio. If you experience students that are disinterested, ask them what they are having difficulty with. Ask them what they may have missed along the way. What can you do to foster the enjoyment they experienced as young musicians once again? It may be zero concerts for a year and then slowly adding them back each year. Provide the student performance opportunities, but at times when they are 100% ready for them. It can look different every year.

Would your teaching look different without the deadline?