I apologize for the delay in sending this. Last night, for the first time EVER,
I fell asleep while formatting the newsletter.

This does not speak well for the content. :)

MY MUSICAL DRAFT

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the past two weeks - or like my wife, who doesn't care much for sports, you know that the NFL Draft commences tomorrow night.

The NFL Draft has evolved into a monumental event watched by millions. Thursday's iteration represents the 88th time owners, coaches, and general managers have assembled for this purpose, and the 88th time Bills fans believed that THIS will be our year.

This Spring tradition features struggling teams picking early and successful teams picking later to infuse the best talent in the most woebegone clubs. It also provides a brief moment of hope and excitement for the beleaguered fans of beaten-down teams - well, almost all. The Browns and the Lions are just cursed.

As you can tell, I am a football fan. Flag, high school, college, NFL, I don't care. I love it all! Heck, if anyone wants to play two-hand touch in the parking lot before a workshop, I'm in.

So I am excited for tomorrow's big event. And it got me thinking...

(this is a thought exercise for fun - don't read too much into this)

I wonder what it would be like if we were to treat our music groups like the NFL.

What if we were to "draft" your ensemble? What positions/instruments would be the most important, and who would you be eyeing? Double reeds, percussion, low brass? Let's keep the analogy going.

Who would you pick as your coach (conductor): Dudemel, Cramer, Corpron?
Who would be your star Quarterback (soloist): Marsalis, Martin, or Sandoval?
Who would be your defense (Brass): the CSO, SFO, or Canadian Brass
Who would you choose for offense (Woodwinds): San Francisco, London Philharmonic, New York Met?
Who would call your plays (composer): Holst, Mackey, McBeth
Where would your stadium be: Carnegie, Kennedy, or Disney?
And perhaps most important, would all of these "players" translate into a team?

And my mental meander didn't just stop at the draft. I started to think about other NFL aspects that might translate to music education and their impact.

What if, in addition to the draft, music education adopted the following policies:

Salary cap: The NFL has a hard and fast salary cap that levels the playing field for small-market teams who lack the resources of their big-city counterparts. What if we adopted a "salary cap" for music groups, limiting what each group could spend during the year? Would it similarly level the playing field for smaller schools in smaller markets?

Access/Practice time: NFL teams are limited in the time they can require for their players. What would happen if each competing music group were to have similar guardrails of how much they can practice per week or when they could start?

Number of coaches: Every team is limited to 16 coaches having contact with players. What if we limited the number of instrument coaches and the time a group can access?

Roster limits: NFL teams are limited to a 53-man roster, with nine additional players on a practice squad. I am not suggesting limiting participation - but would similar numbers or even instrumentation level the playing field? Drum corps does this.

Instant replay: What if we could rewind and review every mistake and dissect it for correctness - would the judge's score change?

Rooney Rule: Twenty years ago, to create more opportunities for minority candidates, the NFL dictated that all teams must interview at least one minority candidate for head coaching positions. What would be the impact of implementing a similar rule in hiring music teachers (or educators in general)?

What about gate receipts, merch, and jerseys? How about parking revenues? If a car is $20, how much do four yellow buses cost? Heck - I would endure long bathroom lines if it meant I could hear some Holst while eating a hot dog and washing it back with a cold one!

Now let's have some real fun. Let's flip the model around.

What if the NFL was more like music education? What if NFL coaches and GM's:

Had to coach whoever walked through the door?
Couldn't scout future talent or control their roster?
Couldn't control the skill or talent of their players?
Had to fundraise for their equipment and manage it themselves?
Had to deal with parents and drive the team bus?
Made only $45,000 per year and had to teach all day and coach?
We're measured by growth and not victories?

That is when we would see who can REALLY coach. It's the age old educational question, achievement versus growth - the NFL measures achievement, find the best, draft the best, and win. While music education is about growth, teach who walks in and take them on a journey that leaves them in a better place than you found them.

Back to the draft.

For most, tomorrow night is about community and hope—a chance to feel like the future is bright and you are not alone in this world. You have a tribe of people with shared passions and values.

And in this way - the NFL Draft and Music Education. April is when hope springs eternal and dreams for next year begin.

Happy drafting everyone.

Go Bills.

Scott

p.s. I am sure I missed some comparisons - feel free to hit me back with the ones I missed.

p.p.s. Thanks the the Airy's for sending me five boxes of Milk Duds after last week's e-zine. You are the best - and no, I am not sharing with Evan.