Where Has The Time Gone? Reflections Of A Music Teacher
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Sphere: Related ContentThe following article is by Scott Ditullio. Scott has written a couple of articles for us before and I have asked him to become a contributing author here at mustech.net! I welcome him into our fold and into our global conversation about music, education and technology, and look forward to many great insights and posts from Scott in the future. The first portion of this article was originally written in June of 2007.
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Where has the time gone? As I look back over the past twelve years, I have to stop and ask, where have all the hours gone. The summer of 2007 marked the first true summer vacation for me. Sounds crazy, I know, but very true! As a high school band director, my former school was committed to participating in a summer parade (like many of you are doing), that meant teaching through June to be ready for the July 4th Parade. I would run rehearsals, like everyone else, a couple of times a week and then a few sectionals. I always had the full band there, some great dedication from the kids; maybe that’s why I never worried about who was not going to be there. The kids made everything worth it, as we have all stated it’s always about the kids and how they benefit from the programs we offer. Not about the time we are putting in. I remember saying many times, “Do I ever get a break?”
I’ve found many other things to occupy my time for those first years as well. I completed a Masters of Education in 2002 (my daughter being born (2000) and then my son (2003)) and most recently the completion of my principals’ certification in the summer of 2006. No, I guess I really do know where the time has gone! I have also spent every summer on the baseball field, from coaching t-ball and legion baseball and umpiring baseball. Oh yes, and don’t forget about all of the preparations for the upcoming marching band season. (I’m still one of those crazy directors that continue to write my own shows!) I played with a great concert band for a few summers, but at some point I realized that I just needed to be able to clear my head of music. So baseball has been my answer. I never realized how busy my summers have been!
Today (June 25, 2007) marks my fourth week of a true summer vacation. It only took the first three weeks, to try and relax. I’ve had a wonderful time with my family! Looking back, I’m now seeing the little things that I missed out on. My wife is a saint! Her support is the reason of where I am today. My kids also understand what Daddy does. They also support me in every way possible. They love coming to my school and hanging out with the older kids, as well as beating on everything possible!
I’m not sure what a new school year will bring for me, when I’m truly refreshed going back to school. As I think of all of my colleagues (we are workaholics, no-one puts in the hours we do). I often wonder what you all do to stay sane.
It’s now October 14, 2007 and as I reflect on being refreshed going back into school, I was really ready to go! Band camp was July 30th through August 10th. It was really a great two weeks. With the help of two exceptional drum majors, the marching season has been outstanding. As with some of your schools, marching band is extra-curricular, so I see three different bands on a daily basis. My two concert bands are Junior High (grades 7-8) and Senior High (grades 9-12), and marching band is comprised of students in grades seven through twelve. Having a competing band is an entirely different world. The kids love the atmosphere, but also become frustrated at times, as do all of us as directors.
What did I do to be refreshed for this school year? I plan our family vacation for after band camp. We knock the socks off the kids for two weeks give them a break and then come back full force. It’s working for my kids, so I’ll keep the format. Our vacation was to visit family in
Virginia. Yes, I still did baseball all summer, then band camp, and then the vacation. I did something different on vacation, as I took a trumpet lesson with Mr. Dave Detwiler (retired lead/jazz trumpet player of the Army Blues Jazz Band). I didn’t do the lesson because I had to; it was something I wanted to do! It was rewarding in many ways! I encourage all of you to do something of this nature in your future!
As I close this post, I know we are always doing what is best for our students, but we must at some point make sure to do what is best for us and our families too. Make sure you have something to help make you relax. Make sure you can get away from the rat race and do something that takes the stress off of your daily lives. Try to do this often, this way you will be refreshed on a more regular basis.
Scott M. DiTullio
[tags] music education, teaching music, music teacher, marching band, scott ditullio [/tags]
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November 9th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Dear Scott,
The one thing I have found in year 13 that sustains me is that two of my three daughters understand what it is I do (the third is not yet two so she doesn’t quite have an opinion yet!). Being a dad and a hs band director is tough. You know as well as I that our job is full of necessary evils. Booster meetings, summer rehearsals and sectionals, community parades - your words have made it to my lips as well “when do I get a break?”
Now on the eve of my first playoff game, some directors would be excited about the opportunity for their school (I don’t know of any) but it translates to this for me: this is another night away from my family. A Middle School County event Saturday, a PMEA meeting on Sunday, Honors Band Tuesday, and host a PMEA District Band selection meeting on Wednesday. Time flies and not always when you are having fun to be sure.
On one hand, this is a draw for our students when they see dedicated directors like ourselves giving of their time. It bodes well for our programs and our reputations in our community. We must be cautious and prudent in what we select to do - for our band’s health and our own. I think it is great you have found baseball as a release for non music, and even better you can take the time to get some private trumpet lessons. As Tina Greig said to me a couple of weeks ago after accompanying me at our student recital “It feels good to make music for me.”
I watch College Football during the fall to release. I love everything about it. And it is a bonus when Auburn plays because Johnnie Vinson’s band plays the whole time! During the summer, a trip to OBX is always in order. I have found landscaping, gardening, and cooking release a lot of the tension and allow me to settle into some form of normalcy. Thanks for sharing and encouraging all of us!