september 2007 - volume 9 - issue 1
Al Sturchio
Through the past twenty-three years as the Executive Director of TBA, I have had the privilege of working with the finest professional band directors in the world. Mr. Mike Brashear is one of those band directors. Mike dedicated six years of his life serving the Texas Bandmasters Association as a member of the Board of Directors. As President of the Board, he brought new and innovative ideas to TBA and scheduled some of the best clinics and concerts during the 2003 Convention/Clinic. As the Executive Director of TBA, Mike will continue to bring exemplary ideas and innovations to TBA. I leave TBA as the Executive Director knowing that the association will be in the best of hands with Mike Brashear.
I believe that one of the things that separates band directors (in addition to their teaching methods) is the kind of enthusiasm they have for teaching students to be good musicians and band members. I also believe that enthusiasm is the secret ingredient of success that both the director and student must have to create happiness with a band program. When an individual really gets enthusiastic about something, you can see it in their walk, talk, and personality. Enthusiasm makes the difference in one's attitude toward other people, their job and the world.
I heard a story about people and their complaints that involves a boy, an old man and a donkey The story goes something like this:
An old man and a little boy were walking down the road guiding a donkey A woman on the side of the road saw them and complained that they should let the old man ride the donkey. Later, another woman said, "Look at that man riding the donkey The boy should be riding the donkey" So they lifted the boy onto the donkey to ride with the old man. Still later, a man saw them and complained that both the boy and the old man were too much for the donkey to carry. The boy and the old man heard the complaints and decided to carry the animal instead of ride him over an upcoming bridge. Unfortunately, the two lost their balance and accidently dropped the donkey into the water as they went over the bridge.
The moral of this story is: If you listen to all your critics and try to please all of them, you may lose your own plan to teach your students and help them be successful. It is said that success is merely the process of fulfilling your own hopes and dreams through the standards you set for yourself.
Al Sturchio, Executive Director
