2019 Region Honor Band Reminder

Dear Directors,

This email is intended for ALL SCHOOLS who have entered the honor band process including bands that will automatically advance to the area level.  Our region level honor band contest is Wednesday, June 5 at 1 pm at the Lee High School Band Hall. We will start sound check at 12:45 pm. Please arrive by this time to set your playback volume level. 

If you are no longer competing in the Honor Band process, please log in and officially withdraw from the competition.

Your online entry forms and recordings must be uploaded by Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Your music scores and final entry fee check must be postmarked on or before Wednesday, May 29, 2019. There is NO LATE DEADLINE. When you mail your scores, please double check that each score has all SCHOOL IDENTIFICATIONS MARKED OUT. Please also be aware that submitting permanently out of print scores or rental scores must follow publisher and copyright policies.

Steven Dojahn

5407 Wimberley St

Odessa, TX 79762

Thank you,

Steven Dojahn

Retirement Spotlight - Bruce Morgan

Colleagues,

During these last few weeks of school, I will be shining the spotlight on our fellow region 6 band directors who are retiring at the end of this school year. My hope is that you will get to know them, help celebrate their accomplishments, and contact them as a resource and mentor in the future. 

Our next spotlight retiree is Bruce Morgan. 

"Make sure it has good tone, even wrong notes have to sound pretty"

Bruce has taught K-12 music and band directing in Cross Plains, Aspermont, and Clyde. He has many great memories from his years of teaching including, "hearing your bands name called to advance to the state marching contest, teaching kids whose parents you taught, every sweepstakes award, and hearing students who have come back to visit say what a good influence you were on their lives."

His best memory actually happened when he was at Aspermont and earned a division 2 at marching contest. When he saw the sheets, he literally picked up Louis Thornton and twirled him around a couple of times. Bruce's excitement was well deserved because before he arrived at Aspermont, the band had received many 3s and 4s in marching band. 

Bruce says, as most of us do, that he heard and/or stole many quips and quotes from other directors. "Everything that happens in the band hall is my fault." Is a quote that has lots of truth and is difficult to wrap our heads around. Once Bruce learned this and put it into his teaching, his kids started to learn more. "don't ever not ask a question!"  Bruce says to reach out to the "old timers", learn from them how to listen, what to teach and when to teach it. Most importantly, "be open to improvement"

Bruce is looking forward to being able to spend time at home during the months of December and January. He's definitely looking forward to enjoying a relaxing Christmas season. 

We wish Bruce all the best as he opens the next chapter of life. May all the years ahead bring him great joy and relaxation. If you would like to keep in touch with Bruce, here is his personal email address: morganbruce25@yahoo.com.

Thank you,

Steven Dojahn

Retirement Spotlight - Jim Rhodes

Colleagues,

It's time to shine the spotlight on another one of our colleagues who will be retiring at the end of this school year. Let's congratulate Mr. Jim Rhodes on his retirement. My hope is that you will get to know Mr. Rhodes, help celebrate his accomplishments, and contact him as a resource and mentor in the future.

"Who are we, Forsan. Whatcha got, Pride. One Band, One Sound!" - Forsan Band

Mr. Rhodes graduated in 1975 from Sul Ross where he says he should have paid more attention in conducting class. He went on to teach for 44 years. All 44 years of his teaching career have been in West Texas. He has taught in Alpine, Grandfalls-Royalty, Monahans, and Forsan.

"It is OK to be an assistant at first", would be his advice for new teachers. He says, "Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you know everything. A degree only gives you a license to LEARN. Find a Mentor to learn from. Dan Gibbs was mine."

Mr. Rhodes has two incredible band memories that showcase his dedication and loyalty to his students. In his own words, "It was marching contest day for Grandfalls and one of my students did not show up that morning. The students said she had got in trouble last night for coming home late. I pulled 3 buses and a truck & trailer up to her house and headed to the door. My principal was with us and said, "What are you doing?" I knocked on the door and entered a dirt floor house where very little English was spoken. The oldest Son asked the Dad if she could go and he reluctantly said yes. She grabbed her stuff, I thanked them as we headed out the door. All 3 buses cheered and my Principal said, "I don't believe what I just witnessed". We made a first division that day and advanced to Area."

Another memory that Mr. Rhodes will hold dear to his heart was an Area Marching Contest day for Forsan in Amarillo. He and his students played a football game the night before in Bronte. When they got home to their band hall, they camped out and left at 2:30 am for Amarillo. Forsan was the first band to march in prelims and drew the last band position to march during finals. Mr. Rhodes asked his band if they could march the show "One more time". One of his saxophone players spoke up and said, "We can March it 100 more times if you need us too, Mr. Rhodes". Forsan won first place that night and advanced to state. This was an incredibly rewarding and very exhausting 48 hours for him and his band. These are definitely the kind of memories that stay close to our hearts.

2 Timothy "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith".  

Mr. Rhodes is looking forward to a different lifestyle in retirement. He hopes to take better care of himself, do more with the family, and look for his next adventure. He and his wife have no plans on leaving Forsan as she has 4 more years to teach. The band hall has always been "Home Sweet Home" for him.  In fact, he really wants to help the new director at Forsan on this transition year. 

Please help me congratulate Mr. Rhodes on his retirement. If you would like to pass on your own congratulatory message, his email address is jrhodes@forsan.esc18.net. We wish Jim all the best as he opens the next chapter of life. May all the years ahead bring him great joy and relaxation.

Thank you,

Steven Dojahn

Retirement Spotlight - Stazie Church

Colleagues,

Over the next 4 weeks, I will be shining the spotlight on our fellow region 6 band directors who are retiring at the end of this school year. My hope is that you will get to know them, help celebrate their accomplishments, and contact them as a resource and mentor in the future. 

The first band director I would like to spotlight is Stazie Church.

"You probably wouldn't worry about what people think of you if you could know how seldom they do."  - Olin Miller

"Luck is a matter of Preparation meeting Opportunity"

Stazie has taught for 30 years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  She has taught in Petersburg, Robert Lee, Grandfalls-Royalty, and Stanton, Texas as well as Cainsville, Missouri. One of her favorite band memories that still brings joy to her heart dates back to 2011 when her band performed a "Beatles" themed show. "We had the BEST group of Seniors and leaders. They helped push the kids to work hard, show up to extra practices, memorize music. It was nice to see the things we want the kids to learn, actually being put into practice! That was the year we also welcomed back a senior that had been removed from the program because of attendance and grade issues. He worked really hard his junior year to pass all of his classes and be at school,  that we let him audition and be part of band his Senior year. He came to every single rehearsal. (And we tied for third, almost making it to the state contest)"

When asked what she would share with brand new beginning band directors, she said, "You should have paid more attention in methods classes. (sigh)". She would also encourage new teachers to find someone with more experience and ask questions. Ask them to come to the band hall and critique you and/or work with your kids. She also advises not to over-program because "Most band directors want everyone to be successful, it's not a contest."

Stazie plans on staying in the area after this school year and is looking forward to Netflix and bonbons. She is very excited to see where else she ends up on this journey of life, possibly seminary, quilting and traveling.

We wish Stazie all the best as she opens the next chapter of life. May all the years ahead bring her great joy and relaxation. If you would like to keep in touch with Stazie, her is her personal email address: stazieann@gmail.com

Thank you and have a great weekend,

Steven Dojahn