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Promoting excellence in bands through professional development, mentorship, performance, and advocacy. |
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Iowa Bandmasters Association
September 2021 eNews
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Membership Dues Deadline - September 15th
Please remember to pay your 2021-2022 IBA membership dues. To do so, fill out and return the membership card along with your payment to Steve Cook by September 15th. The membership card may be found in the IBA magazine, in your fall newsletter, and on the IBA website. Dues must be paid by September 15th in order for your name to be included in the 2021-2022 IBA Directory. And remember, you must be an IBA member in order for your students to participate in any IBA district event. So send in your registration today!
Checks should be made payable to Iowa Bandmasters Association, Inc. and should be sent, along with your membership card, to Steve's NEW Address.
Steven Cook, I.B.A. Secretary
415 E Pine Ridge Dr
Polk City, Iowa. 50226-2207
Credit card payments for membership dues are accepted via the I.B.A. website. Please visit bandmasters.org for credit card payment instructions.
*New* Membership Registration Card
It is important to note that IBA has a new membership registration card. IBA Secretary, Steve Cook, has recently moved and therefore the card is sent to a different address. Please double-check when renewing your membership that the mailing address is for Polk City. (See above) Please use this new member card.
2022 IBA Conference, May 12-14
We are actively looking for members to contribute sessions and clinics for the 2022 IBA Conference. So, if you have a specialty or would like to share something with our membership that you are doing within your program, I would encourage you to apply to present a clinic.
Weather Policy regarding Excessive Heat
With the possibility of hot & humid days to come, please read this reminder from IHSMA:
In the case of dangerously hot weather, as indicated by a “heat index” reading of 90 degrees or higher (See IHSMA Heat Index Table), all marching bands will be required to perform in partial uniform. Partial uniforms shall consist of single-layered, light fabric clothing with no head covering or jacket. This policy shall be required at the IHSMA State Marching Band Festival and recommended for implementation at all other invitational and local marching events.
Adjudicated events may decide to have an entire classification of bands adhere to this policy in the anticipation of heat-related issues for some of the bands within that class.
Band members and Directors should plan accordingly. Though it is not necessary, bands may choose to have an alternate uniform as their “partial uniform” (i.e matching shirts and shorts) as a backup alternate plan should the Weather Policy apply. If shorts are utilized they should be in modest taste.
Adjudicators shall not deduct any points for bands marching out of uniform or in partial uniform due to weather-related concerns (heat index, windy conditions, precipitation, etc).”
IHSMA will provide a Digital Temperature/Humidity Pen for each IHSMA State Marching Band Festival Host Site’s use. IHSMA recommends the use of the General Digital Temperature/Humidity Pen – Model PTH8708.
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It is that time again, the start of the new school year. With that comes a fresh start, challenges that lie ahead, and the excitement of what could be. In honor of new beginnings, I’d like to dedicate this eNews message to our newest members, our first-year teachers. While all of us could use a reminder here and there, here are...
10 Tips to Survive as a First-year Band Director.
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Begin with the end in mind. Before getting too into the myriad of details needed to create a successful band program, first think about the overall picture. What will your program look like? Then start making plans, one detail at a time. “You want to take them from where they are, to where you want them to be, one step at a time.”
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Don’t try to change too much too quickly. When you first get started, don’t change everything right away. You will be the outsider moving in, and many students and community members will still have loyalties with the previous director. Make a priority to change one or two things the first year. That way the transition will be gradual without upsetting the “apple cart” too much. Focus on people instead of procedure.
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Introduce yourself to the people who “run” the school (and I don’t mean the administration). Many of us veterans know that the school doesn’t function without the custodians, cooks, or secretaries. Make a connection right away as it will pay dividends later. These people often feel unappreciated. Say good morning; ask the custodian(s) that clean your area what you can do to make it easier; and if you’re eating school lunch, please and thank you goes a long way. Even something as simple as giving them their favorite candy bar on their birthday or for helping you with a big project. People are much more likely to help if they feel valued and respected.
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Get to know your students, colleagues, and community. Find small ways to get to know others. Make a point to go watch the students at one of their sporting events. Then the next day tell that student how awesome that touchdown run was, or how they served 12 aces in a row. That lets them know you care about them as a person, not just as a musician. Often we are secluded in our own part of the building, so don't be afraid to introduce yourself to the other teachers in the building.
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Return emails and phone calls in a timely manner. When returning emails and phone calls, especially to parents, it is important to be positive and also be very open-minded. It is important to let parents/guardians know when their child is acting up in class, but those parents/guardians would also like to know when their child has done something positive in class. Even if what the student has done is something as small as not talking as much that day in class, or they passed off their scales before anyone else, or they just played with a great sound today – take advantage of sharing these accomplishments with parents. Be sure to stay on top of communication and respond within 24-48 hrs if possible.
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Manage your surroundings. Managing your surroundings will also help ensure success. This can be done by keeping a clean classroom and keeping your work area (your desk) organized. Organization is very important, especially for educators who hold valuable student information. When students see their band director is organized there is a good chance they will also be organized and be prepared for class each day. Staying organized can become difficult especially in the middle of the school year, but it is important to stay as organized as possible. Also, being organized shows responsibility, and administrators want to work with teachers who will be responsible at all times. Someone once told me a sign of a good band director is a messy desk--which I have to admit looks like my desk more times than I like. Just be sure to straighten it up at the end of the day/week.
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Plan ahead and keep track of deadlines. Being a band director means being busy all the time. This means that there is no time to make up plans while on the go. Plan out the week and keep notes for future things to do. Also, keep notes of things that worked, as well as things that did not go well. Keeping notes will allow you to make proper adjustments in the future. Planning ahead can also reduce stress and it shows that you are once again responsible and very prepared. Students can tell when their band director is not prepared, and that can lead to students losing interest. Keeping students interested is very important, and if you are prepared it is much easier to do. Along with planning ahead, make sure you know when key deadlines are. Almost nothing feels worse than telling a student they can’t participate in an activity because you missed the deadline. Have a calendar with prominent dates marked or put deadlines up on a bulletin board and check it frequently!
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Set expectations early. Letting your band know what you expect from the beginning is important. Once you have outlined your expectations, it is very important that you stay true to your expectations with every student and not bend. Staying true to your expectations can be tricky. As problems and issues develop, especially with the top students in the class, it is important to not bend, as bending on your expectations can make other students believe you are showing favoritism. Showing favoritism is a very bad thing and it is one of the fastest ways for a band director to lose respect. Staying firm in your expectations will gain more respect and show that you are a person of your word.
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Have a life outside of school. Most of us get into this profession because we love music and students. Too often, however, we are sucked into the trap of spending too much time on the job. When you leave for the day, leave the problems, the unfinished business there--it will wait. We all need time to decompress which is impossible if all our waking hours are spent thinking, planning, working. Spend time with friends and family, play with your pet, or join a league or group. When I first started teaching, I joined a bowling league. I looked forward to Wednesday nights because it was a fun time, relaxing, and I made a lot of new friends.
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Networking. Networking is very important in education, especially for a young teacher who is looking to advance in their career. Networking is all about making connections and building relationships that can be beneficial to both parties. Get to know other band directors who are in your area. Making yourself known will open up doors for more opportunities in your field and can further your career. Many people recommend people for jobs that they like, so it is important to make yourself known to as many people as possible to keep your foot in the door when trying to advance. Education changes just like technology, and as an educator, it is important to make sure you are keeping up to date with all the newest changes. Having the right network of people to assist you will ensure you are always kept in the loop. Now the good part, you’re off to a great start by joining IBA!
I wish you all the best this year, and please don’t be ashamed to ask for help from others, we were all first-year teachers at one point! Use your mentors and I’ll be happy to help in any way that I can.
Respectfully,
Jeana M. Larson,
IBA President
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Iowa Bandmasters Association
95th Annual Conference
May 12 - 14, 2022
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