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My Band Leadership Story

Oops, never did finish that last post on leadership, did I? (Read it here: https://williewillus.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/on-leadership-and-the-vista-ridge-hs-band/)

That season of 2013 went on to become the greatest ever in Vista Ridge Band history, advancing to the State Marching Contest and placing third. We even qualified for Midwest and then made the BOA San Antonio finals! Now, it’s nearing the end of my senior year…where did the time go? I’m now the Woodwind Captain in addition to Flute Section Leader, which basically means my SL capabilities have limited extent over the other woodwind sections as well. I’ve learned a lot about leadership since that last post, which I’ll ramble about below.

Warning: Any semblance of organization is merely illusory. Rambling will abound.


Tough Love

I was quite naïve in the previous post about what leadership entailed. I thought it merely meant teaching them how to march and correcting mistakes that occurred and passing out music (and making zillions upon zillions of copies…). Man I was so wrong. As only an assistant leader in 2013 I didn’t have the exposure that our captain had. I tried to teach to the best of my ability. I was quite judgmental of those that did not have the skills or motivation that the band needed, which hampered the developing bond between my section members and I. I shied away from who I thought were the “trouble kids” - the ones that talked loudly and seemed to not care.

This year, I tried to truly be friends with everyone in my section. And oh my, what a difference it has been. By reaching out and bonding with everyone regardless of their achievement level and effort level, they are brought closer to me. Thus, I more easily inspire them to succeed. As leaders, we have to give every single individual their best chance, not just help the ones that are excelling and leaving the others in the dust.

There’s one thing I tried to avoid, though. I’d seen plenty of other sections in the past where their SL was entirely too easy on them, allowing them to break all manner of rules, breaking them alongside their section, or not enforcing high standards. I didn’t want my love to turn into apathy for their skill. So, I was tough on the field. I enforced high standards whenever I could, but I did with kind words and a soft voice. It works. Only rarely had I the need to ever raise my voice. By creating the persona of “tough love on the field” and “cool friend off the field”, I felt I could bond with and inspire everyone.

Being a representative and a judge

As a leader, we’re chosen by our sections via approval ratings the semester beforehand. You could say we are elected, in a way, by the people, for the people. Sometimes you have to act in the best interest of your “constituents”. The most prominent thing I felt I had to do this year in that regard is “making calls”. Love the directors, but they are ambiguous with instructions sometimes. Confused, my section would look to me for help. The most obvious answer would be for me to ask my superiors, the Drum Majors, for information. But sometimes (a lot of the time :p) they would have no answer. Thus, it’s up for me to make a call on what to do. The most important thing when doing that, other than making a smart decision, is to take responsibility for your call. Take the blame. For them.

I remember one rehearsal we were coming back onto the pad from somewhere, and our director meant to bring us to the back sideline to rest in the shade just for a little, but I split the line off unknowingly and went to the front (to my surprise a lot of people followed me), where I thought water was more important than shade. My director got slightly irritated at our lack of instruction following and I instantly stepped up to take the blame. This shows everyone you won’t abandon them; you’ll make decisions to the best of your ability on their behalf and you’ll take responsibility for them.

Stretching the rules

They tell is at leadership camp time and time again: “Leaders are the bridge between students and directors.” We’re seen as both excelling students and extensions of the staff. I’ve always found it strange, then, that the staff requires us to be the perfect student at all times. That brings us out of touch with our students. They have that little rebel in them sometimes that needs to be fed.

Allow yourself to stretch MINOR rules sometimes (like follow rules 97% of time stretch a LITTLE 3% of the time). This tells the section “I’m one of you too. I’m a student too.” and avoids portraying you as a figure on a high horse that needs everyone to look up at you because you’re a perfect A++++++ student.

Now there’s some rules that should never be stretched (those involving safety, especially). Clearly establish through your actions (not your words) which will be tolerated or not.

The most important thing: TAKE RESPONSIBILITY whenever you stretch the rules. I tried to tell everyone whenever I did “If a director asks tell them I let you.” Again this tells them “I’m out for you. I’m not a director’s spy-and-snitch.”

The little things matter the most

They really do. Your little things should always be yours. Find them, and do them always, and I found that that helped me establish a unique personality

Some of my little things: (I’ll add more if I remember)

  • Saying hi and bye to every section mate if I see them
  • Sitting with varying section mates at lunch and get to know them
  • During contests and any other downtime or wait time, hang out with varying section mates, not just the “good ones” or the ones in your band
  • Fist bump everyone as they finish a CrossFit set, or right before a performance, or just in times when they need it
  • Show a genuine interest in what they’re doing when I’m hanging out with them “What’s that game?” etc. etc.
  • Be a nerd. Be enthusiastic about what I’m working for. If I won’t, why will they?
  • Put heart and soul in, get heart and soul back. The ones that won’t accept it usually do badly or quit. Give them the benefit of the doubt and just keep giving it.
  • Teach gratefulness. We are so lucky here in Region 26 and Area D. Go anywhere that’s not Austin or Dallas and you see these no-name bands that have 0 money and 0 chance of making anything. Yet they’re still loving, still marching, still bonding. If they can, so can you. Be grateful we have techs, a nice place, nice instruments, an actual trailer, good uniforms, good shows, the list goes on…

I tried not to “lead like so-and-so led last year”. I tried to forge my own path and my own methods of leadership. Anyone that follows should too. Adapt, but never emulate someone else’s style.

Leaving a Legacy and Honoring the Program

During that midseason slump where everything always seems to go bland and bleak, when everyone just wants to be done, it’s hard to find a purpose in what you’re doing. “Why am I standing in the heat for 2.5 hours every day to play and march around?”

My answer to myself whenever that happens is “For the program. Always for the program.”

I honor and respect the program as #1. Even the directors are below the program in my eyes. I strive to do everything I can to bring honor to our name (this sounds really Mulan-y, haha) and let the band world see how good Vista Ridge is.

I feel sometimes others feel obligated to the directors to do well. “I have to show Mr. X I can do well!” And I feel that is very susceptible to mood swings. If Mr. X yells at you you suddenly lose motivation. On the contrary, if you’re yelled at keeping the above motive in mind, just think “Ok, he’s just trying to make me better so I can better serve my program.”

Another key part of this is training and nurturing new leaders. To my sadness, I know I can’t be here forever. My babies need to grow up and lead themselves and find and inspire new leaders as well. I try to encourage everyone to try out for leadership, and I try to be very open and transparent with my thought process so others know what it’s like to be a leader. It’s only my best wish for a section I love so much. I want others after me to be better than I ever was.

My shortcomings and failures

I hope the above has not painted me as a “supreme leader of awesomeness who knows everything”, because, sadly, I don’t. I’ve had major falls this season as well.

Our section’s relationship to a certain brass section (“who will remain unnamed” +1 points if you got that reference. No, not Harry Potter) was rough at times. We as a whole saw the apathy and aloofness of a few members and judged the entire section as a whole based on a few awry individuals. There was also friction between their leaders and I. They taught their section in an entirely different way, one that was foreign to my methods. And, I admit, I didn’t like it nor agree with it. I still didn’t understand that I needed to accept that that was out of my control and trust that their leaders had it all figured out. This culminated one day to a terrible rehearsal experience for me. I was half-sick, frustrated, and tired. I acted like someone who didn’t want to be there. The section mood dropped as well. When I bond with them, I had to realize that if I go down, so do they. Some nasty tweets also resulted from that day, to which I received some backlash. Eventually, I cooled down, got my reasonable hat back on, deleted the tweets, and talked it out with a member of that section. Altogether a 2-day problem, it still reminds me of what happens when I lose my cool and trust in my fellow leaders.

Letter to Future Leaders

Dear Leader from the Future,

Congratulations on the position you’ve been recognized for! Leadership doesn’t begin when you’re given a title, it begins long before that and is recognized publicly with a title.

It’s such a weird thing, leadership. I sometimes look back and think to myself “Wow I poured my heart and soul into leading a HIGH SCHOOL BAND??” And I don’t regret it. If there was only ONE thing I could take from this whole experience, it’s that you get back what you put in. Pour heart and soul in, get heart and soul back from nearly everyone you lead. Pour scummy water in, get wataer vapor and discouraged souls back… :p

I wish you luck and success this upcoming marching season and all your future endeavours.

I wish you unending motivation and drive to love and improve, that your love never fades.

I wish you success in leadership, more than I and any of those before you could ever do.

Above all, I wish you the best of fun doing what you love with your friends and inspiring others to do the same.

Now go win some UIL medals and BOA finalist trophies! Have fun!


With Loving Admiration,

Vincent Lee

Former Woodwind Captain and Flute SL (2014-2015)

Class of 2015