Typically, as America moves towards the Fourth of July weekend, we are filled with patriotism and pride. A time to give thanks for the freedoms we enjoy and pay tribute to those who have sacrificed. Think of it as a patriotic Thanksgiving, if you will.
Plus, we get to blow stuff up. And lot's of it.
With widespread civil unrest, a global pandemic, and a national Presidential election, you would think that patriotism is low. But apparently, it's not, at least if you measure patriotism by gross tonnage of black powder.
A recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times revealed that "Calls for fireworks complaints have skyrocketed this year in Chicago. From January 1st to June 21st, there were 7,042 calls to 911. There were just 842 calls during the same period last year. That's an increase of more than 736 percent."
On the same day as the Sun-Times article was released, an unrelated, but equally important, the Associated Press published a survey stating that Americans are the unhappiest they have been in almost fifty years. We are red, white, and BLUE.
Do you think those two facts are related? Do you think we are blowing stuff up in record numbers because we are filled with unfettered joy and national pride? Or is it because we are scared and angry?
As I mentioned last week, fear and anger are part of the grieving process, and we are all grieving. I would be concerned if you didn't feel that way.
The impact of COVID has been far and wide and is not even close to being over. Its effects on your program will likely be significant and pervasive. It will impact the way you rehearse, where you travel, who you hire, and how you perform. It will change your budget, facilities, and enrollment, both now and in the future.
If directors are as human as the rest of the world (and I would challenge that assertion), 50% of you feel pretty blue right now, and it's not the red, white, and star-spangled kind.
But before you go looking for a blanket to crawl under, consider the following:
You likely still have a job—a way to feed and provide for your family.
You are not likely sick, nor will you become sick in a way that would compromise your life.
You will still get to see great kids and make great music.
You get a chance to reinvent a part of yourself and your program in a meaningful way.
You get a chance to experiment with new instructional models with virtually no consequences.
In the grand scheme of things, life ain't so bad, and in fact could be much, much worse.
You still get to do what you love with young people you care about and make a real difference in people's lives.
So as our country approaches its national birthday party, what do you say we blow less stuff up and spend that energy taking broken things, and people, and putting them back together?
That's a red, white, and not so BLUE that would make Sousa proud.
Have a great week. I am taking a break next week, so you may or may not hear from me. I suspect you will all be fine (if not better off) without my supervision.
- Scott