Conference.  The word alone conjures many pictures in my head.  I have attended them, helped to create them, presented at them, eaten at them (usually the chicken) and, as I am a music educator, listened to or performed at them.  There is the anticipation of learning or seeing or hearing something new and at the same time, the anticipation of home, gathering with friends and colleagues you may have known and loved for years.

The last couple of days have revolved around yet another conference, this one dedicated to band directors.  Now you may say Judy, you’re not a band director! But in my heart of hearts, and had it not been for a few different twists and turns in my life, my plan was to have been a band director.  So despite the fact that I ended up with a choral degree and have taught elementary general music for most of my career, I love hanging with the band dudes and dudettes.  It’s an interesting throw back group in some ways as it tends to be mostly men, men who can be very traditional and who like to do things the way it has always been done to keep that tradition alive.  It can also be a group of people who are very forward thinkers, those who want to see more kids participate in the instrumental realm in different ways such as guitar ensembles, mariachi, steel drum, drum ensembles and modern band.  Regardless of how they decide to practice their craft, band directors are – well – band directors and I do have a warm spot in my heart for them.  My husband, also a band director, would probably say that’s a good thing!

At this conference I got to be more of an observer, “working” a booth (more like hanging out with friends), and getting to be the director’s wife.  Before the conference I had the opportunity to hang out with college students on their first advocacy “Hill Day” at our state capitol.  Such amazing young people, eager (and slightly anxious) to speak with their legislators about the importance of music education and how current bills up for vote can affect teachers and students both positively and negatively.  I heard a beautiful group of singers from the university in the rotunda of the capitol, the heart melting sounds echoing off the walls and traveling down the halls, calling a couple of legislators out to listen.  After the concert, one of those legislators was heard singing something to the choir director with great enthusiasm, then he walk to the piano, played a few jazz chords and walked off with a smile.

That afternoon we attended a concert at the conference, featuring middle/high school students playing steel drums, guitars and drums in various ensembles.  Although I’ve heard more student ensembles than I could ever tell you about, I focused not only on the quality of their musicianship, but also on the reactions of the other students waiting for their turn to play.  Middle school students, those students who tend to be the most squirrely and impulsive of age levels, were totally engaged in the other student performances, leaning forward in their seats, completely silent and applauding enthusiastically afterwards.  I watched parents clapping proudly for their students with big grins on their faces, and teachers in the audience smiling, feeling pride in students they had no connection to but who understood the magic of watching their students step out and make their own music.  It was the epitome of what we believe music does for kids – I saw cooperation, collaboration and creativity in action on that stage.  With a little guidance (and I’m sure a little rehearsal), students were responsible for not just the performance, but for taking care of their things before and after.  Imagine if all adults behaved this way?  Perhaps they should have been in music classes….

So, on to the banquet last night.  I have to admit I much prefer the buffet to the plated banquet because first of all, I get to choose what I want, and secondly, it takes me back to my  childhood where my parents would take me to a cafeteria occasionally and I got to pick whatever I wanted.  Ok, so I’m a control freak.  Anyway, the usual choice is chicken and fish, which we had, but we ALSO had beef!  This never happens – it was a conference banquet after all.  Life is good. We were the last table to go, so I had plenty of time to observe people.  I watched animated conversations among friends and colleagues, heaping their plates like a family reunion.  Chocolate cake was being butchered at the end of the line because everyone wanted it instead of the cheesecake and when it ran out, one colleague actually asked the server if there was more and sure enough, just like home, it appeared on the table.  It was loud, with sounds of clinking glasses and silverware, and lots of laughter.  Some of that laughter turned to tears during  awards time, but it was truly a celebration over good, simple food, reminding all of us that there should always be times where we gather, remember and honor each other and just relax and have fun.  All of this merriment was followed by a band concert with a diverse program, performed by a community band made up of many generations.  A reminder to all of us that music making is and should be for life.  A fitting end to what had been a busy couple of days.

In many ways it was just another conference.  A little bit of chicken and fish with a whole lot of music.  A wonderful end to my week and the beginning of  a well deserved break.  As we celebrate Music in Our Schools Month, I say thank you to all of those band directors in the world (and other music educators) who make such a difference in the lives of kids everywhere.