Envisioning and Realizing My Band Program

Antonio Williams

1/18/22

I aspire to be a band director because music has changed me in many positive ways, and I

want to teach others through music to help them in their lives. Music, particularly band, has

always been my second home. I was always comfortable in the band room and I always

understood music when it pertains to reading rhythms, style, and other fundamentals. When I

became a drum major, I only got a taste of what it is like to lead the band, but it made me realize

that teaching and guiding others through music is my calling. Music has become an important

part of my life, and I would like to share that experience with others through teaching it.

My goal is to teach at the high school level and possibly the collegiate level. I believe that

the high school level is an important level that helps individuals focus on improving their skills.

It is the bridge to collegiate level playing, which means it is where students learn skills that they

will need at the next level. To contain these skills, they need to do high school band. Also,

marching band is a big part of wind bands, and I feel like marching band and concert band teach

different sets of skills that students will need if they choose to continue to the collegiate level.

I want to have a large-sized program. This is because it will help me to work with

students who are on different levels of playing, which ultimately gives me the experience to

work with good musicians and those who need a little more help perfecting their craft. I feel like

large ensembles also push students to become the best they can be. This is because they want to

be at the top of the band, which means they will work hard to become better musicians.
 I plan for my band program will consist of 3 concert ensembles, a jazz band, and a

marching band. The three concert ensembles will be the concert band, symphonic band, and

wind ensemble. The concert band will consist of students who are new to learning music and

those who need to work on their overall playing. This band would play level 2-3 music. The next

band will be the symphonic band, which will consist of the students who will most likely become

the next students in the wind ensemble. This band, personally, is the most important concert band

of the three. This is because it pushes students to the next level, whether from concert band to

symphonic band, or symphonic band to wind ensemble.

` I plan to get my master’s and doctoral degrees in music education. I want to get these

degrees for multiple reasons. Financially, I want the degrees because they will help me to earn

more money for my family that I want to have in the future. Professionally, I feel like these

degrees will assist me in teaching because they give me the certification to teach, especially

when wanting to become a collegiate director. I feel as if having multiple degrees will make me a

credible band director who understands music on a deeper level.

I was influenced to be a band director by middle school and high school band directors.

They have all taught me many lessons throughout my life. Also, my mother has been an

influence on me becoming a band director because she knows my passion for music and pushed

me to pursue a career in it. My band directors always were helping me understand things I did

not know about music, especially when it came to theory and other important musical aspects.

Once I understood what they were teaching, it helped me to be able to assist others when they

needed help. Also, my band directors always offered support to me when I needed it. They

always listened when I needed someone to talk to and they helped me in the best way they can.

My band directors and my mother saw something in me that I did not see in myself. They truly
pushed me to become a band director. I will use what I learned from them when teaching

students myself.

In ten years, I see myself working towards a doctoral degree. If I have my dream band

program, then I should be working to solidify it as one of the best programs in my region and

possibly state. I also want my band to do big performances and parades, to bring popularity to

the program. I also would want my program to have good numbers and musicians. I believe in

the no last chair players and I would want my band to have multiple good players in each

section. I also want to start looking towards jobs in colleges, if I want to do. If not, I should have

a program that can be continuing to its highest peak. In ten years, I will truly know if music is for

me by the ten-year mark.

I enjoy band and I feel as if it has become a part of my life. I want to help others share the

same passion that I have for music. I have many goals to achieve and I will do that by setting

goals and completing them. Band creates a family and I want others to see that through my

teaching. I will do my best to become a great band director, no matter what area or situation I am

in.