A Legacy of Love Through Music Education

A Legacy of Love Through Music Education
By Susan Clothier
Educational Representative
Palen Music Center - Oklahoma City, OK

Our company motto is, “It’s About Kids”. Sometimes, I think we, as educators, get so wrapped up in the “stuff” that we forget those words. We get wrapped up in preparation for this event or that event that we forget that we are working with young people! 

I grew up in an era of band directing through intimidation! We practiced and could play, or we were berated by our director. We never talked back, the director was the authority. If they said practice, we practiced.

As times have changed and society norms have changed, there is no band directing with intentional intimidation involved.  

I landed at my last school in the late 90s and things were changing. Society became more litigious and parents were not afraid of confrontation. I found myself changing how I talked to students and how I motivated them. I did not, however, change my expectations.

Picture this, Sicily 19…..! I landed in small town Oklahoma after completing my master's in the early 90s. The band was in rough shape, but the choir was state-of-the-art, with a teacher who had been there for years. With my big ego and a shiny new degree in choral conducting, I made it my mission to “help” this lady! I soon found out that she would ultimately help me.

Gonna take a left turn here and impart an important tidbit! We became Lucy and Ethel! Because of that, most middle school and high school musicians were involved in both choir and band.

We created an environment of program equality that ultimately strengthened both of our programs. The students saw cooperation and unity. Not division and jealousy. I believe because of those elements, we now have students, years later, who attend the Eastman school, playing internationally, singing in Chanticleer, teaching, and just being good humans.  

Not all schools are blessed with a crazy dynamic duo. Not all schools have an incredible music department that works together with the mission statement being, “It’s all about kids,” and living that each and every day.

Yesterday, we had a celebration of our choir director's life. A number of students returned to sing in an alumni choir to honor her life and legacy. It was incredible to reconnect with them after all these years, but more incredible to direct them on her favorite anthem.

At rehearsal, we chased some notes, but they had been taught so efficiently that we did not have to discuss diction much (it wasn’t perfect). The best part was looking across the faces in that choir. Most of those students had participated in both band and choir. All of them sang with their hearts, full of honor and love for an incredible educator and person.

What will your legacy be and how will you be remembered? Will they know that you loved and cared for them or just used them as a means to another trophy?

Think about it.

Susan Clothier
Educational Representative
Palen Music - Oklahoma City, OK