On the MENC Band Forum, MENC member "sraybould" recently posted, "The more people see the value of what you are doing, the better."

Your first day is done. Now comes the aftermath. You have more work to do if you are to stay on track and build your program.

After the fateful day:

Set your goals down on paper. Consider short term, two year, four year and ideal goals. You want basic solutions with which your administrator can read and work.

Make friends with everyone you can. Introduce yourself to the custodian, secretaries, and the PTA/PTO. A buddy list is a good idea.  Stay polite, avoid gossip, and learn about what they do.

Make regular contact. Find ways to send reminders to students and hold them accountable for reading them. Make phone calls to parents. Write articles and make announcements in school publications so the staff and administration see you are proactive.

Plan performances. You need to put your students in front of people. Examine your schedule and decide what can be accomplished.

Stay loose. Avoid getting too serious. Health and well-being are number one. Don't neglect family and friends.

Read Part One
Read Part Two

Continued in two weeks: A Different Take On Doom.

Tips collected from the Band Forum.

—Paul Fergus, September 16, 2009. © MENC: The National Association for Music Education