Band League: Behind the Curtains
As both a parent and a Rock 101 employee, I often have the inside scoop. Last weekend, this intel had to do with one of the bands at Band League. A band member was feeling particularly anxious before practice, to the point of considering not attending that day’s session. After talking through it, the student decided that the solution was for her to talk to her fellow band members, reasoning that if she could explain how she was feeling, her band members would then have the opportunity to support her.
This tactic worked beautifully. The student’s vulnerability provided the optimal circumstance for open communication and trust-building. I am happy to report that this band is now officially BFF’s for life.
This is a lovely feel-good story! Here’s the thing: from my inside vantage point, I can tell you that it’s just another day at Band League. The program is crafted in such a way that the instruction is three dimensional. The students are learning how to play music in a group setting, including what it takes to put on one great show. It goes without saying that they are studying the concrete skills of music technique, sound checks, finding your instrument’s tone, and how to work with stage equipment. What isn’t stated explicitly in the program description are all of the soft skills that are fostered along the way.
When Kevin Herig speaks to the students about what it takes to be successful as a band, playing solid music is only one item on the list. He, and the other instructors, often speak about reliability, integrity, teamwork, and communication. The best statement I have overheard so far is very simply “don’t be a jerk.” As the giggles settle, the overall message is clear: To be a strong bandmate and musician, you must first be a good human being.
In a society that puts pressure on achievement and concrete outcomes, let’s take a look at how Band League is intentionally fostering something a little bit different.
Honest Communication & Self-Advocacy
On the surface, communication is easy. These students are chit chatting all day long! How about honest, clear communication? This is much more challenging. Band League puts students in situations in which they sometimes do not get their way. Maybe it is song choice or even the band in which they have been assigned. The administration is constantly talking to parents and scanning for any ripples of grumpiness. Once detected, the next step is facilitating conversations so that students learn how to advocate for themselves through clear communication.
Problem-Solving & Compromise
Suppose for a moment that it is your heart’s desire to play the song “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, but you have been grouped in a band that has two drummers, one guitarist, and a ukulele player, not to mention that four students in the group want to have main singing roles. Is it time to throw in the towel and storm out of Band League? Or…is this an opportunity to use creativity, compromise, and collaboration to craft a version of the song that has never been played before? We would like to think it is the latter, and our instructors are constantly working to shine light on how perceived challenges often lead to the best performances ever.
Adaptability & Open-Mindedness
All of us who have been through the school system understand how working on a group project is often very different from working independently. A group project requires discussion, using emotional intelligence, and discrimination. When do you speak up and dig in your heels versus when do you go along with the group’s overall idea? This is a tightrope that many adults have yet to master!
Band League presents the students with opportunities to try new things, including experimenting with ideas that they may not initially like. Learning how to be open minded and curious while stepping outside of the comfort zone is, in fact, the name of the game. In those inevitable situations when negativity prevails, let’s circle back to honest communication to clear the air.
Vulnerability & Authenticity
Artistic creation of any kind requires vulnerability. It’s a scary thing to piece something together and then to stand on stage and present it to the world! The courage of vulnerability is closely tied to authenticity. It is very hard to display one without the other. At Band League, the students are shown many examples of stage presence while being reminded that authenticity is the best energy you can bring to the stage. I have seen instructors talking to students off stage about how they are feeling. I have even seen instructors leading students in how to take deep breaths. The only way to teach vulnerability and authenticity is by example, and this is where our Rock 101 instructors shine.
Band League is way more than just a program. It’s a lifestyle. We hope the students will carry the skills we model with them when they move on to larger arenas of life. We are creating good human beings who will thrive in the world. While creating killer music. (That last point is non-negotiable.)
