I have been so fortunate as to have unbelievably talented musical and educational role models throughout my life. With each teacher or musician I meet, I am given the opportunity to learn about something I didn't know much about before, to explore a new point of view, or to simply enjoy listening to someone make music.
I had one role model during my time at UMass Amherst that constantly challenged me to see things in a different way, and who always reinforced the idea that musical ensembles were for everyone. He always said that playing in a band is the best thing you can do, and don't let anyone ever tell you differently!
His name was Professor George Parks, and he was the director of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band for 33 years. Mr. Parks pushed students to be their best inside the classroom and out, on the marching field and off. He taught me to dream big, to welcome new challenges, and to find the very best in everyone I meet.
I wanted to share some clips of him and his band with you on this chilly September morning.
On leadership:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNaH2xppnKg
The UMMB 2010 Pirates of the Caribbean show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWN910CJKKY
Band Day - A day where thousands of high school musicians play with the UMMB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtP3BiqU31Q
"Be your best when things are at their worst."
"To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late."
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
“Do something spectacular, so your spirit lights up the room when you leave.”
"Make sure you show support for others before they show support for you."
"Every time you don't do something because you're afraid of failure, you failed."
With Pride,
Ms. Dorgan
I had one role model during my time at UMass Amherst that constantly challenged me to see things in a different way, and who always reinforced the idea that musical ensembles were for everyone. He always said that playing in a band is the best thing you can do, and don't let anyone ever tell you differently!
His name was Professor George Parks, and he was the director of the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band for 33 years. Mr. Parks pushed students to be their best inside the classroom and out, on the marching field and off. He taught me to dream big, to welcome new challenges, and to find the very best in everyone I meet.
I wanted to share some clips of him and his band with you on this chilly September morning.
On leadership:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNaH2xppnKg
The UMMB 2010 Pirates of the Caribbean show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWN910CJKKY
Band Day - A day where thousands of high school musicians play with the UMMB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtP3BiqU31Q
"Be your best when things are at their worst."
"To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late."
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."
“Do something spectacular, so your spirit lights up the room when you leave.”
"Make sure you show support for others before they show support for you."
"Every time you don't do something because you're afraid of failure, you failed."
With Pride,
Ms. Dorgan