School and Community Winter 2024

be successful in this endeavor and in any walk of life. It is not a matter of using the “left brain” or “right brain,” but the entire mind, body and soul. Fourth Gear: T2 P2 (Time, Travel, Performance, Personal Character) After progressing through the first three gears, the ability to shift into fourth gear is achievable and attainable. Students understand that everything has a season in fourth gear. With limited time, teachers and students alike need to make the most of the opportunities they have been given. Important lessons taught through wise use of time, efficient travel, performance and character are developed in this gear. Every year, seniors lament that they do not know where the time has gone - I think we have all experienced this in our lives. Teaching students to use their time wisely and to understand that “forever” really does not exist helps them to make the most of every opportunity. Many of our performances take us great distances away from Blue Springs and traveling with hundreds of people is different than traveling with one’s own family. The intangible life lessons learned by students start the moment they step on the bus, learning about themselves and each other in the process. One of our best compliments came last year when the band arrived in San Antonio at 1 a.m. and nobody at the hotel knew 300 high school students had arrived except the front desk. This accomplishment is reflective of our distinguished character and behavior as a whole band. Performances can be exciting and nerve racking. Learning how to perform under pressure is an important skill regardless of your career path. As a performer, you cannot turn to the audience and say, “We are going to try this three or four times and it will be better after we get comfortable.” We must always do our best because we never know who is watching. Just this past year, a performance for 100 people turned into an invitation to perform for thousands. Great character and representation of Blue Springs proudly (on and off the field) is the ultimate goal. My

students should first and foremost be first-class citizens. This is taught through the expectation that students should be polite and courteous to their bus drivers, parent volunteers and other bands. This must be modeled by student leadership for it to be maintained throughout the organization. One of the many items we discuss during summer training is how we as a band want to be remembered and viewed. Fourth gear allows us to look at some of the results of the first three gears. It is a natural progression, but the foundational truths of the previous gears are essential to travel fluidly into the fourth. conclusion of our spring concert inscribed “Finish the Race.” I strongly believe that many young people in our society have lost the ability to stick with something until the end, so it is important to recognize the students who finished what they started. High school students may make sudden reactions and quit activities just because something becomes inconvenient or difficult on that day. The ultimate lesson I hope to teach is the importance of finishing the race in every aspect of life by never giving up. You are guaranteed a race, but not an easy one. The medals we present to the seniors say, “Finish the Race” and not “Finished the Race” with the intent to remind them to finish every race they start with class and dignity. Culture is the cornerstone of the Blue Springs program. As we perform and experience special milestones, the focus is not solely on developing the current band. Our members understand that generations of Golden Regiment members are performing on that field through them in spirit. Members of the past have prepared the band for present opportunities, and it is our job to continue to lay the foundation to prepare for future generations. I hope at the end of the day we are helping to create kind, gritty, compassionate and hard-working humans who are ready to take on the world - and hopefully we can create some great music too. Fifth Gear: Overdrive - “Finish the Race” Senior band members receive a medallion at the

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