Chris Hettenbach

Dr. Mueller

MUED 111

11 February 2018

Most Influential Teacher

During high school, I never really expected to become a music major. I actually planned

on going into college as an undecided major and thought that was the best path for me, up until

my junior year that is. I had started to realize that I loved going to band class and nothing else. I

was learning so much from the moment I walked into the class to when I packed up. I was taking

4 band classes by the time of my senior year and helped out with extra-curricular activities. I

would never have done any of that if it weren’t for my band teacher, Brandi Jason. During

marching band, she would always use complex musical terms and then describe them to us so we

know what they mean in the future. She is also a walking metronome. She can literally go right

at the correct tempo without needing a reference. Even if she ends up at a faster tempo at the end,

that was always a miracle to me. However, most of the inspiration comes from her critique style.

I may not have noticed how much it had helped me become a better musician now, but without it

I don’t know where I’d be. What she did is not the question, it’s what she didn’t do. I can tell you

how many times I’ve received a compliment from Ms. Jason on one hand. And that pretty much

goes for everyone else in the band. People would literally get applauded when they received a

compliment. I always disliked that about her, but after graduating high school, that made me

realize that that’s how life works. Someone isn’t always going to be there to cheer you on. It also

taught me not to expect a compliment or nod of acknowledgment if I did something to help out. I

could not have asked for a better band teacher for my four years of high school.