We have all heard the news about the demise of the Columbus (Ohio) Symphony. But did you know that most Central Ohioans are still enjoying live music throughout the summer without the Picnic with the Pops series?
Just this past weekend we had the Jazz and Ribs Festival in downtown Columbus, The Worthington Civic Band gave a Concert at Worthington on the Green and the Scioto Valley Brass and Percussion Co. played in front of a very large audience at Central College in Westerville, Ohio. This coming weekend we have the Dublin Irish Festival featuring many national, international and local musicians. The Brass Band of Columbus is booked for two sets (1 on Friday and the other on Saturday). This is but two of the summer weekends in Columbus. On any given weekend there is music to be heard from small groups to large 30-40 piece bands and even choirs. The people of Columbus are getting their music and many of them are responsible for making that music.
The summer tradition of listening to music outside while you enjoy dining is still happening without the Picnic with the Pops. And who is supplying the music; local musicians that play for the love of the art. Now I fully support the musicians of the CSO. I think many of the board members were in it for the prestige and not for the music and needless to say not for the musicians. But without musicians you have no music. But is Columbus short of music or musicians? No way!
Columbus has more Brass Bands than any other city in the U.S. At last count we have 7 active brass bands that perform for varied audiences throughout the year. This is not even counting the wind bands, choirs and orchestras that are active in the greater Columbus area. These organizations keep themselves running by the dedication of their musicians and their board of directors that are committed to the group. Most of the time, the boards are made up of the musicians themselves. My wife is the president of the Central Ohio Brass Band board of directors and she plays solo cornet with the group. Most of the remaining members are also musicians in the group. This is true with many of the organizations boards. Why do these groups thrive? The board members and musicians have ownership in the group and the mission. This is something that the CSO board of directors lacks.
Do we want the CSO back? Yes we do! But the board must be on the same page as the musicians and not loose focus of the mission- The Music. If the music is wonderful then the other benefits will come. In the meantime go check out some of the best music that your local musicians have to offer.
1998 was a very bad year! The separation and divorce really took its toll on me as it would anyone. I secured a position in the Lancaster City Schools teaching Music K-6 and assisting with the HS Marching Band. The LHS "Band of Gold" was a fine organization and we were very successful. Teaching Elementary students didn't thrill me at all by I supplemented that regular position with directing High Schools Musicals, Marching Band and in my personal life.
One day, I was pretty down about my divorce situation but I decided to change my own fate. I called Dr. Paul Droste and asked him if there were any brass bands in the area that were looking for a cornet player. He mentioned the Scioto Valley Brass and Percussion Co. directed by Carol Hayward. I knew Carol from her days at Westland High School. I went to my first rehearsal and sat in the solo cornet row right next to a nice girl by the name of Lori Auman. The rehearsal/audition went very well and I was accepted into the fold very quickly. Summer concerts, meeting new people, learning more about central Ohio, picking up golf and living again- that was the summer of 1999-a good year. Lori and I starting dating and were married in the spring of 2002.
The job on the other hand was drudgery and not fulfilling. I began to get more into the music technology side which interested me very much. Our elementary classrooms at Lancaster City were equipped with the Yamaha Music In Education System and that improved my job situation very much. I really enjoyed teaching with technology and decided to get my Masters degree I educational technology from Boise State University. They offered a national recognized online program.
Almost like it was supposed to be this way; the year I was to receive my degree from BSU I got RIF'd from Lancaster City Schools. Very grim financial situation forced Lancaster City to let go 102 teachers including half of the music department. So my 18th year of teaching ended with doubt and anxiety but a hopeful outlook to the future.
My predecessor at Shendnaoh was the first band director in the district and was a legend; at Shenendoah only because no one outside of the SE Ohio schools heard of him. A tin god position is never a good one to walk into but I took the job because it was all band all the time. The band was heavy into comptition and marched in an ancient style known as the Bill Moffit style. Squads of four marched as a unit and executed pinwheels, forward marches and even 270 degree turns.
The Zeps Band was a lot of fun to work with. I started a Jazz Band, the Concert Band was successful and we went to State Marching Band contest often. There were some problems with the past diector interfering with things I wanted to do and I had to finnally tell him to keep hands off the program. I began to make changes to modrenize the marching program. I eliminated twirlers, started a flag corps, implemented Field Commander leadership roles and upadated the drill design and show style. (side note; To this day the previous director has his hands in the program it has returned to it's floudering old self.)
After 8 years at Shenandoah, 1 marriage, 1 daughter and 1 divorce I moved from Shenandoah to the Cenral Ohio area to start my 11th year of teaching.
Today marks only 3 days left with students and soon the end of my 20th year in teaching. With the 20 year milestone looming it is difficult not to look back. So in this series of posts I will write abut my past experiences in education and how technology played a part.
My first teaching job (1987) was at Ridgewood Local Schools in Coshocton County, Ohio. I actually interviewed for the position before I had secured my degree from Bowling Greeen State University or Ohio teaching certificate. I was marching in my second local parade with the Ridgewood Generals the day I graduated from BGSU. I got my diploma in the mail.
I was a young and cockey band director taking over a waning band program. In addition to HS band I taught Jr. High Choir, Band and beginning band at 3 different locations. My second year they made me teach general music at the Elementary level in addition to my band director duties. I was too stupid to know that they were working me to death. I met my first wife while teaching in Coshocton Co.
I had never been to a marching band competition let alone marched or taken a group to a HS competition. I found out quickly that MB competition was going to be difficult for me to enjoy. I used my Apple IIgs to keep track of band rosters and played around with computer aided drill design with the first ever Pyware software. I enjoyed mild success with competitions when I decided to interview at another school that offered a position that was 100% band instruction-no general music.
I walked into the visitors center with my mic and the people there kinda of freaked. They went and got a manager and she told me that I needed written permission from management to record any of the tour. Woodford Reserve may be a small distillery but they are owned by Brown-Forman, a very large corporate entity in the adult beverage industry.
We had lunch at a nearby sandwich shop called Wallace Station which features panini pressed style sandwiches and soups. Their desserts were decadent and very popular with our group.
After checking into our hotel and relaxing for a bit we headed to the performance site for a quick check up on our program. Things went pretty well.
At about 9:30 we arrived at a restaurant just on the boarder of Kentucky and Indiana that had many good beers on tap and had many nice hand-made pasta dishes to choose from.
We are all looking forward to today.
