Harrison Bands Leadership Application Typed Questions | 2024 Season

Applicant Name: Adrian Hutchins

Applying for: Drum Major, Lieutenant, Section Leader
I would also be more than happy to accept any crew excluding field crew.

A. What makes you the best candidate for the position you are applying for? I believe
that I am a great candidate for a leadership position because I want to do it for myself and
the program. I believe that we should all get to know each other, and as a program we are
family. I work well with others, even if I don’t necessarily like them. I try to talk to as
many people as possible, get different points of view on the band program from friends
and peers, and see how I can impact the program, whether I’m on leadership or just being
a leader. My main goal would be to improve the relationships within the program and the
understanding of everyone’s role. As an applicant for Drum Major, I feel that I can be
dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive environment where every member feels
valued and supported. I am committed to leading by example and inspiring others to
reach their full potential within the band program. I believe in the power of teamwork and
collaboration to achieve our common goals. Drum majors have to be there for themselves
but also for the band as a whole, and I am confident in my ability to balance both
individual growth and group success in this role. I believe it will help me effectively
guide and unite our band towards excellence.

B. What are your greatest personal strengths? I believe my best qualities as a person are:
great listening skills, reliability, a positive attitude, great problem-solving skills,
identifying step-by-step solutions, and being able to understand others' emotions and
character. These qualities can come in handy most of the time, no matter what job,
position, or role you have. I believe that I can offer a lot to the Harrison Bands program,
such as leadership, integrity, a helping hand, a role model, and being a leader that people
may look up to—not always being the follower that people don't notice. As a person in
leadership at my Taekwondo dojang, I have learned many responsibilities that come with
leadership, such as being a role model, splitting my focus on myself and others, and most
importantly, being able to take ownership of my responsibilities no matter what my title
is. I am confident that my experience in leadership roles will allow me to contribute
positively to the Harrison Bands program. I am dedicated to upholding the values of
integrity and responsibility in all aspects of my life, both personally and professionally.

C. What is your weakness as a leader? I believe I have a few weaknesses as a leader, but I
always strive to somehow turn my weaknesses into a strength, address my weaknesses in
therapy, and try to improve myself and my leadership skills. I feel that my greatest
weakness is that I’m too outspoken and can over-explain things, which can sometimes
come across as arrogant to others. I can overshare my opinion on topics while tending to
speak what’s on my mind rather than thinking about how I’m delivering my opinion to
someone and how they would interpret my opinion. I feel that I have gotten better at this
since I last applied for leadership last year, and I use this weakness as a time to stop and
Harrison Bands Leadership Application Typed Questions | 2024 Season

listen to others and help them understand my view and their view. The next biggest thing
I would say is that I tend to take on too many tasks at once, which can sometimes lead to
feeling overwhelmed and not being able to give each task my full attention. However, I
have been working on prioritizing my workload and delegating tasks when necessary to
ensure that everything gets done efficiently and effectively. I have also been improving
my time management skills to ensure that I am able to dedicate the necessary time and
attention to each task. All of these tasks will help me be self-sufficient and be a leader for
my band and myself. I like to reflect on others' actions and choices, whether good or bad,
and see how I can relate and if I need to improve myself so that I can be reliable but also
a great person overall. Additionally, I have been seeking feedback from peers and
mentors to help me continue to grow and develop in this area.

D. What are some areas in which the organization could improve and how would you
improve them? I believe that the program could improve our knowledge of how we are
like a family and how we impact others, whether it’s when marching or in their social and
personal lives. It is important that students my age understand and have knowledge of
their impact on others because, at our age, we are more focused on ourselves than how
we affect society. My personal goal is to understand that my actions change the course of
others lives and to hold myself and my peers accountable when we say harmful or stupid
things and turn it into a teachable moment for myself to reflect on my life while also
guiding others by setting an example. I also believe we should be more transparent about
the roles of leadership and what it really takes to be a leader on the leadership team. The
current five have done a great job helping us understand during the round table and have
been truthful and not sugar coated about what your role is within the program and what
people are signing up for, and they seem to value the same. I do think we could explain a
little better to upcoming members who you can talk to and rely on, still allowing them to
build their own trust in others but also showing them how they create a foundation, as we
can’t have a marching band without regular members. It would be beneficial to have a
clear outline of the responsibilities and expectations for new members. By fostering a
supportive and informative environment, we can ensure that all members feel empowered
to contribute positively to the group dynamic. This will ultimately lead to a successful
and cohesive marching band.

E. What are some things that you believe would help retention and recruitment within
the band program? As I and others have helped my current section leader create and
suggest new ideas for retention, such as sectionals, I feel as if the approach we take to
them is great. I think there shouldn’t be an overwhelming amount of them, but there
should be a balance between being able to help the section welcome newcomers and also
getting used to being with one another for long periods of time. I have liked some of the
recruitment attempts I, among others, have suggested, such as visiting other schools and
Harrison Bands Leadership Application Typed Questions | 2024 Season

educating them on the program throughout this year, and I think it is amazing that we are
spreading music and an opportunity to join a program made for excellence. I think that
we could improve on introducing kids earlier on to music, and we have done so with the
choirs performing at a few schools, but I think we can have an opportunity such as a
family festival or small performances to help the younger elementary and middle school
levels be introduced to the world of music. By starting music education at a younger age,
we can foster a love and appreciation for music that will last a lifetime. Additionally,
hosting family festivals or small performances can create a fun and engaging way for
children to experience music in a welcoming environment.