#301. A Lesson Learned

One morning last year, while I was rehearsing an all-state band, we came to a measure in a march that had a giant crescendo to the final climatic strain. They played it fine. It wasn’t inspired. It didn’t give me goosebumps or make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It was just fine. I tried every trick I knew but it really didn’t improve. So I decided to move on, sad that I couldn’t get them to truly bring that moment to life.

Later that afternoon, all of the students from all of the honor ensembles gathered in the main hall to hear my dear friend Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, or “Dr. Tim” as we all know him, motivate and inspire like no one on earth can. He had all of us move from moments of laughter, reflection, tears, and a myriad of other feelings as he held us all collectively in the palm of his hand. At one moment, he lifted his hand upward in a gesture as he asked the students to set up tall. And they did so instantly. During the rest of the session he repeated that a few times with the same instant result.

Fast forward to later that evening. I was again rehearsing that march. Again, when we got to “that” measure it was still being “phoned in” at best. I immediately stopped and asked them to reflect upon how they all sat tall for Dr. Tim when he made that gesture. How we all seemed to rise in intensity and focus as we sat taller. I asked them to play that passage again, but this time I wanted them to make that happen musically as they played that crescendo. What happened next made me smile from ear to ear.

When we got to that measure, the students not only played that crescendo with power, intensity, and vibrance. But to my absolute amazement, en masse, they also sat taller just like they did for Dr. Tim. As I told them what I saw, we all laughed as I said I wanted them to “sit taller” musically, not physically. But here’s my favorite part. As we rehearsed through the weekend, and even at the concert, each time we got to that measure the entire ensemble sat up just a tiny bit taller. I don’t think they could stop themselves even if they wanted to.

I have used that approach many times since then, and it has never failed me. Never once. It works like magic. Over the years, Dr Tim has taught me more lessons than could fill fifty books, many specific, some while not even knowing it, and always by just being the person he always is. Thank you, my dear friend.

Peter Loel Boonshaft, Director of Education
KHS America