Saturday, June 14, 2025
No Result
View All Result
The Chimney Rock Chronicle
FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Pickup Locations
  • Columns
    • All
    • Book Notes
    • Faith
    • From the Potting Shed
    • Fulks Run Follies
    • Local Legends
    • Personal Development
    • Reflections from the Past and Present
    • The Wandering Wilkins
    The Chimney Rock Chronicle.

    From One Chimney Rock to Another

    Ken West.

    Learning to Dwell In the Secret Place Part 3

    George Bowers.

    Licking the Fruit 

    A Clear Picture of THEIR Purpose

    The Chimney Rock Chronicle.

    Another Story from Our North Carolina Friends

    Ken West.

    Learning to Dwell in the Secret Place – Part 2

    George Bowers.

    Stocking Trout and Jesus’ Return 

    Ken West.

    Learning to Dwell

    George Bowers.

    Who Are We Pleasing?

    Spotlight on the Off Broadway Players

    Gospel Vault

    Gospel Vault: April 1990 A Look Back

    Ken West.

    My will or God’s will?

    George Bowers.

    Dealing With Smoky Nostalgia

    Connecting Compromise to Our Clear Purpose

    Women in Leadership and Athletics:  Personal Reflections on How We’ve Come a Long Way!

    • Entertainment

      Spotlight on the Off Broadway Players

      Gospel Vault

      Gospel Vault

      Gospel Vault

      Gospel Vault

      Off Broadway Players Announce 2025 Season

      Spotlight on the Off Broadway Players

    • History

      Highlights from the Plains District Memorial Museum

      Life Lessons from Fulks Run Grocery

      When This You See

      When This You See

      161st Anniversary Battle of New Market Commemoration

      Timberville Historic Notes

      Timberville Historic Notes

      Justice in the Good Old Days

      When This You See

      When This You See

      Highlights From the Plains District Memorial Museum

      Connecting With Others, Bite by Bite

      Brocks Gap Heritage Day April 26

    • Lifestyle
      • All
      • Health
      • Inspirational
      • Travel

      The Wandering Wilkins

      Sarah’s Recipes

      Sarah’s Recipes

      The Chimney Rock Chronicle.

      Retta’s Column

      Local Teachers Attend VRTA

  • Events
  • Our Sponsors
  • Advertising
  • Home
    • About Us
    • Pickup Locations
  • Columns
    • All
    • Book Notes
    • Faith
    • From the Potting Shed
    • Fulks Run Follies
    • Local Legends
    • Personal Development
    • Reflections from the Past and Present
    • The Wandering Wilkins
    The Chimney Rock Chronicle.

    From One Chimney Rock to Another

    Ken West.

    Learning to Dwell In the Secret Place Part 3

    George Bowers.

    Licking the Fruit 

    A Clear Picture of THEIR Purpose

    The Chimney Rock Chronicle.

    Another Story from Our North Carolina Friends

    Ken West.

    Learning to Dwell in the Secret Place – Part 2

    George Bowers.

    Stocking Trout and Jesus’ Return 

    Ken West.

    Learning to Dwell

    George Bowers.

    Who Are We Pleasing?

    Spotlight on the Off Broadway Players

    Gospel Vault

    Gospel Vault: April 1990 A Look Back

    Ken West.

    My will or God’s will?

    George Bowers.

    Dealing With Smoky Nostalgia

    Connecting Compromise to Our Clear Purpose

    Women in Leadership and Athletics:  Personal Reflections on How We’ve Come a Long Way!

    • Entertainment

      Spotlight on the Off Broadway Players

      Gospel Vault

      Gospel Vault

      Gospel Vault

      Gospel Vault

      Off Broadway Players Announce 2025 Season

      Spotlight on the Off Broadway Players

    • History

      Highlights from the Plains District Memorial Museum

      Life Lessons from Fulks Run Grocery

      When This You See

      When This You See

      161st Anniversary Battle of New Market Commemoration

      Timberville Historic Notes

      Timberville Historic Notes

      Justice in the Good Old Days

      When This You See

      When This You See

      Highlights From the Plains District Memorial Museum

      Connecting With Others, Bite by Bite

      Brocks Gap Heritage Day April 26

    • Lifestyle
      • All
      • Health
      • Inspirational
      • Travel

      The Wandering Wilkins

      Sarah’s Recipes

      Sarah’s Recipes

      The Chimney Rock Chronicle.

      Retta’s Column

      Local Teachers Attend VRTA

  • Events
  • Our Sponsors
  • Advertising
No Result
View All Result
The Chimney Rock Chronicle
Subscribe
Thank you to our Sponsors! Thank you to our Sponsors! Thank you to our Sponsors!
Home Uncategorized

Band Notes

Cathy Brown by Cathy Brown
November 2, 2023
in Uncategorized

I had a cool conversation with my Concert Band today.  It came about as I was taking attendance and taking an opportunity to “check in” briefly with each kid in the class.   I asked everyone to respond with a comment of some sort about Band this year–something good or something bad, something that was individual or about the group, anything they wanted to share.  The only rule was to be kind, no chatting (good luck with that), and no Chromebooks; EVERYONE was asked to listen respectfully to what everyone else had to say, though it may or may not have worked out that way.  Here are a few of the things that were shared.

“Band is way better than last year”

“I like the music, the spooky stuff is fun”

“I’m having lots of fun”

“This class works well together, better than last year”

“We are helping each other a lot this year”

“I’ve met lots of new people in here”

“I lost some old friends, and found some new friends”

“I’ve found my best friend.”

“I’m glad I’m here at JFH”

“My instrument plays better than last year, or maybe it’s just me”

These were all great shares. It took forever to take attendance (sorry Mrs. Spitzer!) but it was time well spent.  One comment about missing a current freshman who was a strong leader last year even sparked a deeper group conversation about leadership qualities, and how they could step up and lead by example.  Confidence (both having it and needing it) was another topic that came up more than once.  I believe that having confidence, building confidence and lacking confidence are hurdles we all need to clear daily, regardless of age.

One of the most valuable things that I learned to do as a kid was using my imagination to entertain myself.  As my skills in creative pursuits grew, so did my self-confidence.  Computers weren’t a thing yet, so I had to get creative with my free time. I created artwork from whatever I could find, wrote, and illustrated stories, and playacted to recreate my favorite scenes from books and TV.  Once I learned to play the recorder in elementary school, I was totally hooked on learning to play instruments, so I joined Band in the 5th grade. While creating something I felt empowered and was able to express myself and say something in my own unique and personal way.   This was a huge sense of pride for me, especially when I was only 12.  My Mom and Dad were always my biggest supporters of course.

Since I began teaching middle school, I have often wondered if kids still get this type of satisfaction from the myriad of activities, they fill their time with in this day and age.  Some might say that today’s digitized kids are less creative than those in the past.   I don’t think kids are any less creative, but at times they definitely do seem more stressed and less confident in their own abilities.  This is really sad to me, because they are so incredibly talented and capable, when they take the opportunity to create, follow through and share their own ideas and abilities, instead of just copying what they saw someone else do in a viral video.

Most of the time, young musicians lacking confidence will say “I don’t like to play alone” or “I’m afraid someone might hear me”; worse yet, ”I don’t like how it sounds”.  Typically when they “don’t like the sound of something”, it’s because they are trying to hide by playing really quietly, and using very little air. That’s counterproductive, since using lots of warm, fast air (among other things) is what makes your instrument sound good.  If you have one of these “hide and seek musicians” in your home, encourage them to play more often, and to play with pride.  Give them some privacy by helping them to set up a practice space where they can close the door.  Tell them that facing into an open closet while playing can help to dampen the sound even more.  That might make them more comfortable, and more willing to play by themselves.

I think creativity is an innate skill in all of us, but it has to be cultivated to grow.  If kept under the surface for too long, it can take a lot of effort to allow yourself the courage to let it show. In my opinion, we are not fighting the loss of creativity among our youth but need to encourage the confidence to share it.  Find the confidence to keep on making music by yourself for now, and also take time to explore some other avenues of your creativity too. You might be surprised what you can do!

Cathy Brown

Cathy Brown

Cathy Brown is Band Director at JFHMS

Next Post
Book Notes: Recent Non-fiction Leth Oun with Joe Samuel Starnes

Book Notes: Recent Non-fiction Leth Oun with Joe Samuel Starnes

Popular Articles

  • Life Lessons from Fulks Run Grocery

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • A Little-Known Piece of Fulks Run History Uncovered

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Natural Healing

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reflections from the Past and Present

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Hair Nook

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • 161st Anniversary Battle of New Market Commemoration

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Paramount Plant Co. Enters Second Season

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • The Promises of Springtime

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • F&M Bank Hosts “Hotdogs for Heroes” to Support Timberville Volunteer Fire Department

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • From One Chimney Rock to Another

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Pick Up Locations

© 2024 The Chimney Rock Chronicle - Website & E-Commerce by Bare Web Design, Broadway Va.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Columns
  • History
  • Sports
    • Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors!
    • Advertising

© 2024 The Chimney Rock Chronicle - Website & E-Commerce by Bare Web Design, Broadway Va.