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Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by Flame on 9/15/2024, 10:20 pm

Hello YB,

How do you keep moving forward trusting the process even when your group continues to place low at contests despite mostly positive feedback from judges? What are the best ways to communicate this to disappointed students who are growing up in a “winning is everything” community?

For context, my campus had spring music/marching camps in May, music camps during the summer, and has squeezed out 8 hours of rehearsal each week after the school year started. The group shows definite growth from last year but still places low in competitive situations. I’ve been told by clinicians that we are heading in the right direction and doing all the right things but that I need to trust the process. As a director it’s tiring pouring my all into my work and not having anything to show for it, it’s also difficult putting on a brave face and praising students for how much they have improved as musicians despite them only seeing a last place score.

I love my job. I care deeply for my students and their musical journey. I’m familiar with “living/dying by the trophy” but I still feel like I’m setting myself on fire trying to encourage my students to be proud of their growth all while trying to have something to show for all the hours spent away from my family.

Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by Questioner on 9/17/2024, 11:20 pm, in reply to "Trusting The Process Despite Placements"

Have you reached out to various clinicians that could come watch your rehearsals and give you some suggestions as to how to improve? Sometimes someone else can see things you can't.

Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by Flame on 9/19/2024, 1:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements"

We have sent recordings and have paid a clinician to work with our group in person for a rehearsal on fundamentals but beyond that that’s it. After some reflecting we may make the decision to opt for a day where a clinician comes out and gives our students feedback as opposed to attending an extra competition. Comparing our scores from last year we have come a long way but I find that my students are still discouraged.

Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by Same, but Different on 9/20/2024, 10:18 am, in reply to "Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements"

I would suggest, instead of various/multiple clinicians, find *one* very good clinician that can be in your rehearsals on a regular basis (i.e. once every 2-3 weeks) to guide and mentor you and the program. Get them to come in early and often, not just "once the band is good." I get it, I used to do that too, but their help in "getting through the struggles" is valuable! I've had clinicians come in while we were learning drill and we gained great insight on how to make that process better. Younger me would have been mortified of a "big name" band director seeing my band in the infancy of our product.

Don't worry about scores, that's probably not why you became a music educator, not to mention that the scores are out of your control. Worry about the quality/achievement of the performance. Are they meeting your expectations and "moving the needle" with each rep?

Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by Little Things on 9/16/2024, 5:12 pm, in reply to "Trusting The Process Despite Placements"

Someone once told me that if a student walked out learning something new, no matter how small, then I'm doing a good job as a teacher. I think about it a lot now and often look back to where my students were years ago. I remind them a lot about the differences so that they can see the changes better too.

You could always do festivals, too. Those tend to always have trophies for every band, so even if you don't get high marks you would still have something.

Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by Question on 9/16/2024, 1:22 pm, in reply to "Trusting The Process Despite Placements"

Why are you going to contests where you earn last place? Find one more in line with your situation. You're a developing/rebuilding program. Enter as NV at UIL. Try invitationals for comments only, not ratings.

Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by ovwrkdnundrpd on 9/16/2024, 1:20 pm, in reply to "Trusting The Process Despite Placements"

I truly didn't start winning until I didn't care about it anymore. I started focusing on improvement. From day to day then week to week and year to year. I just started wanting to be better tomorrow than I was today. Since then my bands have earned several sweepstakes and straight ones. Now I focus on the experience and making every performance a winner. The trophys come and go, but the experience stays forever.

Re: Trusting The Process Despite Placements

Posted by observer on 9/16/2024, 9:27 am, in reply to "Trusting The Process Despite Placements"

The Process™️ has done some evolving over the years. As an example, there was a period of time when judges were awarding a 1 at SEC when they knew it was really a 2. Someone invented a form akin to an affidavit that the judge had to sign each time they awarded a 1 swearing that they really, truly believed that the 1 rating was justified. This was done in the hope that the practice of inflated ratings would go away. The fact that this form was employed was a tacit admission that the situation had gotten crazy. Trust the process if it is trustworthy.

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