jL | In Practice - Legacy Mindset / Stop worrying

In the classroom - Legacy Mindset: As we enter the final stretch of the school year, it always brings a mix of emotions.  While an exciting time, it can be challenging for all to remain focused and consistently engaged.  I’ve learned to address the challenges head-on.  In rehearsal tomorrow, I’ll briefly touch on the negative things I see annually (lower levels of consistent focus, immature behavior, apathy, and distant stares instead of active pencils), but we’ll spend more time discussing the exciting opportunity on the horizon.  

I’ll remind the kids of the opportunity in front of us and ask what they want their legacy to be.  We’ll discuss the 50 days this unique ensemble has left.  I’ll applaud the investment they’ve made so far, but I’ll challenge them to finish the race.  The journey of the ensemble from July to May is always a marathon, and we’re entering the home stretch - in just under eight weeks, this group will never exist in the exact same form again.  We’ll discuss that anxiety, discomfort, fear, and fatigue are all normal emotional responses to imminent change.  Despite this challenge, we can choose to make the experience special together.  I’ll encourage them to engage a ‘Legacy Mindset’ - how do they want to remember each other and the music they made together?  With an intentional ensemble choice (and a teacher who will gently remind them of what they’re capable of when we veer off the mark ;)), we should be able to make the best music of the year.  Their focus on fundamentals and consistent approach to the rehearsal process since August allows us the ability to engage at the highest levels, but they have to make that choice.   

Simply: what will their legacy be?  Will this be an ensemble that could have been great, or will we engage together and be stunning at a level that leaves everyone talking?

Behind the scenes - Stop Worrying; start working: Coming off Spring Beak is always challenging for me.  I LOVE my job, but am I the only one who feels like we cram two weeks of stuff into a one week bag just so we can enjoy the opportunity to ‘relax’ in the middle of the semester? 😛

This full sprint without a ramp up (feels like too many sports ball metaphors this week…) leaves me feeling stressed to Level 10 before we even start.  I can find myself work-adjacent (you know…organizing my desk drawers while binge-eating during my ‘rehearsal planning’) for hours.  Eventually, I have to just make lists, set timers, STOP worrying, and START working.  For me, I take a deep breath, remind myself that (supposedly) I’ve done this before (25 other times to be exact), and I can do it again.  I cannot allow my fear to hijack what my students need from me to be successful.  I make a list and start with baby steps, baby steps, baby steps.

Remember: How we start matters, but how we choose to finish can change everything!