Thomas Jefferson and Liberty

A recent visit to Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson, left me reeling with the inconsistencies of his life, his practice, and his worldview. As a mythical and historical creature, Thomas Jefferson represents all that is great about our country. His remarkable intelligence, work ethic, and constant devotion to the ideals set forth that shaped and expanded our country into what she is today--a powerful, compassionate, and highly productive society. From the Declaration of Independence to his remarkable acquisition of the Louisiana Purchase, Jefferson made his mark on history and will long be acknowledged as one of great leaders of the United States of America. The oft-quoted words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" provide a guiding philosophy by which we built our country and continue to life our lives today.

We acknowledge the life and wisdom of Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, who is deserving of our respect and admiration, a man with undeniable intellectual gifts driven to make a significant impact on the world, and one whose influence continues to be felt in our magnificent country and throughout the modern world. But he was also a human being and filled with foibles, flaws, and mistakes that often accompany the human spirit. How often do we encounter people whose words do not mesh with their actions? We rationalize this in many ways from hypocrisy to sin to emotional instability or maybe even chemical imbalance. We avoid harsh judgment of others due to our own personal awareness of frailty and the propensity to make mistakes. As great preachers remind us when discussing sin, the law deals with mistakes one way while a forgiving and loving God deals with it in other ways.

Those truths aside, there are only two explanations for why Jefferson kept slaves and why he (some disagreement on this) fathered children with one of them. One is that his desire for land, power, and influence overrode his view of liberty, and two his sexual appetite, maybe love, was greater than his prejudice toward slaves as property. Does it really matter? Yes, history does matter and not just to avoid mistakes of the past but also to explore our civilization, our culture, and our foundation of our governmental system. Gross inconsistencies between the practices of our founding fathers and the very words they penned leave the words shaky and tenuous when seen through the historical lens of action over philosophy. How can we now believe and apply the text to our lives and our country when the words had such little meaning in application? Or maybe that is unfair. Ultimately the power of the Declaration of Independence as a binding document becomes the lifeblood of our country in spite of the flaws of the original authors.

We can justify some of Jefferson's actions and his ownership of slaves by the context of the times. After all, he did keep them in clothes, provided food and shelter. He grew his own territory and contributed positively to farming, science, and the economy. He was a remarkable man who lived a life of significance far beyond that of most people. But no matter how many ways we examine his life and his contributions, the ownership of slaves cannot be justified on any level, particularly when examined from the man who encouraged life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. How can the author of one of the most influential documents in history propose liberty while opposing it in so blatant a manner? Is it possible to advocate for liberty and slavery at the same time? Did Jefferson only believe in liberty for whites? What about his own children who were born into slavery? Did they have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

In a way these are difficult questions and point to a past society not ready to accept blacks as "all men" and certainly not equal. But in a way they are not difficult questions. The answer is clear and leaves no room for debate. Jefferson was morally wrong and incomprehensibly hypocritical as a champion for liberty and an owner of slaves. He compounded his morally reprehensible practice by having a relationship with a slave and fathering children with her, children he denied. It is easy for us to point fingers, pass judgment, and denounce his actions, and too often we brand others as undeserving of our respect without having walked in their shoes. We do not fully understand the social, political, nor economic pressures of the times and the high expectations of being Thomas Jefferson the statesman, author, President, and Founding father of a nation must have been tremendous. Surely a day did not pass where he felt an overwhelming burden and responsibility to live the life set forth for him as a leader.

But the words are hollow and the justification empty. Thomas Jefferson did not practice liberty nor did he believe "all men are created equal." Knowing this truth is painful and serves as a reminder of the flaws of human beings.

The Art of Teaching

Having spent a career studying great teachers and putting into practice myriad approaches to teaching, I am going to summarize my thoughts on what it means to achieve teaching excellence.

A good teacher knows the subject matter, sets the goals, and presents the information in a logical, sequential manner and in a such a way that students can use the knowledge to continue learning. Yes, teaching is about student learning in an environment that is both inspirational and focused on the subject at hand. For learning to take place, the teacher must create a climate of openness, mutual respect, and eagerness for knowledge. In such an environment, a variety of tools and methods can be implemented in order to encourage learning through dialog, lecture, technology, group activities, and a vast amount of web resources.

Because of differences in learning styles due to training, background, personality, aptitude, and receptiveness, it is necessary for a teacher to present information in a variety of ways, often reteaching a concept or an idea not only for emphasis but also to reach all types of students. Information must be delivered and communicated precisely with creativity, interest, and perception of the learners in the classroom. While learning can take place in stagnant environment whether online, virtual, or face-to-face, synchronous learning that involves personal interaction is the preferred communication and learning climate.

Regardless of the positive environment created by the teachers for the learners, there remains a need to inspire students and hold them accountable for the information. Inspiration can take many forms including organization, content, will power, personality, and varied experiences in and out of the classroom. An inspiring teacher is one who fosters interest in the subject matter and the desire to improve and strive for intellectual growth. Quality teaching results in eager students for learning and knowledge.

Accountability is a necessary and valuable part of teaching. Imparting information, sharing ideas, and communicating subject matter is particularly rewarding, but without any confirmation of the communication, teachers risk one-dimensional experiences that serve little purpose other than meeting the needs of the teacher. While we immediately begin thinking of tests, quizzes, and writing expectations, accountability, like teaching itself, can and should take many forms. The time tested Socratic method of teaching is a form of accountability as is perception of the experience. Quality teaching and communication in general have an abstract flavor that is almost indescribable yet perceived through body language, facial expressions, and general response of learners. This makes accountability both a science and an art, a joyful tool of assessing the efficacy of the teaching experience.

In a Christian context, teaching takes on a higher expectation of excellence, not unlike the life of Jesus Christ who communicated truth in a multitude of ways and demonstrated the ultimate sacrifice. As an example of quality teaching, Jesus lived the life he taught others and became a walking example of discipline, courage, truth and compassion. Applying this principle to today, teaching is not about delivering information but, instead, is about living it. The challenge to manifest truth can be overwhelming and sometimes impossible to attain, but the journey toward living out ones' faith and message is transformational both individually and collectively.

Recent Speech

TAMS Presidential Address

Robert Tucker

January 28, 2016

Music makes a difference in our world whether that is in the concert hall, rehearsals, entertainment, sporting events or even in nature. Sound is a result of vibration and vibrations are around us all the time.  Among the most dramatic musical sounds in nature is the sound of the bird. A new species of bird called a Thrush was recently discovered in the Himalayan forests. Although it is a Thrush, scientists realized it was not the same as the Mountain variety of Thrushes normally identified. A close look at the bird revealed it to have a slightly shorter tail and shorter legs although still in the Thrush family. The discovery was made due to the “tuneful song” played by the new species. When compared with the Mountain Thrush, the forest thrush had an increased number of notes and a steadier rhythm, musically catching the ear of the scientists and making them aware of the different species. This is yet another example of the role of music in our world. Music happens around us all the time, often altering our perception of our environment, and affecting us in ways we cannot always define, cannot always measure, but definitely making a difference on many levels.

Imagine for a few moments a world devoid of sound. While we know that this is impossible and absurd, how would it alter our other senses, how it would it shape our emotions and our aesthetics? When John Cage attempted to create a completely silent environment, he heard the sound of his own heartbeat and the rushing of the blood through his veins. Silence is not possible. The sounds we experience every day are a form of music in our world. Those sounds and more have been organized into a complex and joyous system of music as we know it and we as musicians have taken sound to a new level of organization. With this system comes the need for guidance and training to continue to develop music and musicians for today. The driving force of sound combined with a healthy love for music gives us the framework for our profession as music administrators.

In spite of the obvious love for music that exists in society, there continues to be a veiled or not so veiled suspicion that music does not serve the greater good and ultimately costs more than the gain. Although not a new suspicion, after all we can point to Plato who worried that music could cause unwanted emotions, it is a pervasive concern in economic down times. This concern leads us to be alert to possible budget cuts, resulting in our frequent need to advocate not only for our students and our faculty but for music at large. Advocacy and entrepreneurship have become standard buzz words for our profession and useful in certain settings, particularly when reminding people of our value, but deep down we wish it were not necessary. Isn’t it obvious that music makes a significant difference in our world? Why don’t they understand?

I recall as a young child, sitting on my father’s knee as he played guitar and sang to me. One vivid memory takes me back to the day he sang a sweet prayerful lullaby with a gentle rocking sound and a clear usage of tonal arpeggios…no, I did not know the word arpeggio at the time! After singing the song, he told me it was a melody from Beethoven’s 6^th Symphony. To this day, when I hear the piece or recall it my head, the memories come rushing back and I am filled with joy at the sound and at the melody. If, however, the marvelous symphonic melody only made a difference to me, it would not have a global impact but, in fact the symphony, as all Beethoven symphonies tend to do, makes a profound difference to thousands. Granted, the melody does have personal meaning.  Yet you might have some kind of similar story or experience at a young age, something that helped shape you into the person you are today.

But knowing this and feeling this does not necessarily pay the bills. Provosts and Vice Presidents often remind us in meetings to increase revenues and decrease expenses. While this conversation takes place every day in the business world, such conversations seem to be escalating in academia. McDonalds continues to explore ways to reduce expenses and increase revenues—all day breakfasts, no more lobster sandwiches, only 1 napkin allowed per person, and boxes that form into paper plates!  One prominent coffee shop closed several stores and then produced K cups for Keurig machines. Still not satisfied with their revenues, they duped the public into purchasing a box of K cups with only 10 cups per box rather than the typical 12. The empty space in the box has now become filled with a slightly smaller box and thicker cardboard for feel and weight…all to increase revenues and decrease expenses. General Electric sold its traditional appliance business to concentrate on technology for the future and Amazon offers Prime benefits which in the end help Amazon grow in profits. To translate the academic language from the university officials, we are encouraged to increase our numbers of students, maybe raise our music fees, become more efficient, and be prepared for budget cuts. My MBA side understands and respects this position, but my artistic side wants to avoid its being central to our cause.

As I think about the role of the music in the world and the charge to increase revenues and decrease expenses, I realize I should have turned to my Dad when I was four years old and told him that his guitar was too expensive and he should have gotten a cheaper model—or even better he should have used a midi recording. Perhaps his time spent singing old melodies should have been spent earning more money and studying data and ratios, such as numbers of notes per rhythm or maybe assessing the profit margins of Symphonies. Or maybe instead of singing he should have just said to me, “Robert, imagine a nice melody in your head and go out and earn more revenue and decrease expenses.” In fact, I probably should have interrupted his song and told him that Beethoven should have composed one symphony rather than nine and one piano sonata rather than thirty-two—that would be much more efficient. Beethoven should have gotten a real job to increase his revenue. Maybe compose a few notes, play those notes on the piano (which by the way did cost some money—he probably could have used clay pots instead!), and satisfied those who like music.

Or those silly little thrushes in the forest making tuneful melodies…they could save some breath by reducing their sound to just one note. Or perhaps at a Thrush convention, they could encourage each other to increase revenues and decrease expenses by avoiding sounds all together and stay in one bunch so as to communicate with a slight nod or wing flap rather than making a sound, I mean after all do they really have to make noise, much less a tuneful melody?

And yet while birds simply sing because that is what they do, we hear it as music and interpret it as beauty. Music becomes the tool for emotional satisfaction, for cleansing, for expression, for representation, for meaning, for depth of thought and ultimately for unification of society. It stands alone for its power and for its ability to synthesize, meld, and blend into its own system of resolution. Music seems to have the ability to bring people together and emulsify conflict. It has been suggested that Elvis Presley did more for integration of the races in the late 50s than did government action. Following 9/11, services were held across the nation using music as a tool for comfort. Church services, weddings, funerals, sporting events, and gatherings of all kinds use music to provide social emulsification. Music is our common ground and music provides substantive meaning in culture around the world.

How often have we noticed how a concert or a musical event seems to squelch or even cleanse conflict? I often deal with faculty concerned about their students or worried about an ensemble or even concern about another faculty member only to have that concern magically alleviated at a concert where suddenly all is well. If ultrasound technology is a more efficient way to emulsify immiscible properties, then it makes sense that music is an efficient way to emulsify each other. Oil and water may not mix but an emulsifying agent brings those elements together. Did you use salad dressing at lunch today? Do you ever add cream to your coffee or eat bread with butter? Do you use make up, lotions, or medical ointments? All these and more are emulsifiers.

Music is an emulsifier for our time as exemplified by the nature of music in everything we do. Ours is a profession of music making and music preparation. We recognize the value of sound and we order that sound into our musical vocabulary which we then develop into a complex system worthy of knowledge and worthy of practice.  This practice forms our schools into curricular programs, ensembles, faculty, classes, performances, juries, budgets, assessment, syllabi, reviews, committees, meetings, donors, scholarships, and evaluations. The demand for efficiency without sacrificing quality often leads us to forget the very reason we became musicians in the first place…because we love sound and believe in the essence of music, an essence that makes a profound difference in the world. Advocate for music we will do, and support it we shall, for to do otherwise is to give in to the pressing urge for apathy in a world that looks for revenues greater than expenses while, at the same time, and rather ironically, embracing and requiring the sound that music offers to our culture. 

As we deal with the challenge in TAMS for greater revenue in light of recent policy changes, let us remember that ultimately it is for the cause of music that we support our organization and each other. Our revenue must exceed our expenses and we will vote to find a way for that to happen. Yet regardless of our monetary conclusion, in truth our revenue is music, and our expense is the hard work that leads to the beauty of music in the world.  As I finish these remarks I want to remind all TAMS members to continue the respect, admiration, and equal regard we give to all schools, large, small, state, or private and to continue to use music to make a difference in the lives of our students. To the musical thrushes I say thank you for the tuneful melodies and for the reminder of the meaning of music; and to all TAMS members I say thank you for the opportunity to have served this fine organization as President.

Social Justice

Almost everyday we read or hear about an injustice taking place in the world somewhere. These events may be localized in which case they seem to hit home to people we know or they may be more global, occurring to people we do not know in a remote region from our normal existence. In most cases, however, the social injustice relates whether abstractly or personally to something from our life or at least a connection to something close to us. Injustice by its very meaning is an example of an event that is not fair. While I may spend some time discussing the impossibility of fairness in all situations, I do think that a continued effort to be fair is a worthy objective for all of us. I suppose fair does not mean equal but it does mean allowing for equal opportunity or in some cases equivalent punishment for like infractions.

When one person's freedom is another person's straitjacket, it is not true freedom. If one hits another on the head and takes the person's money, then the crime should be punished. If my right to own a dog infringes on my neighbor's right to freedom from a barking dog, then my dog needs to stop barking or go away. Social justice allows for fair treatment for all and the right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. When my pursuit prevents the happiness of someone else, then I lose my right to the pursuit. Otherwise I am free to pursue happiness in all its myriad forms. But criminal activity aside, it is those ambiguous situations that do not seem right but are not infractions of the law where we need to act in a manner that allows for fair treatment for all.

When I look back on history and think through the 40 Acres and Mule program from the Reconstruction, I find myself feeling ill at the mistreatment of the former slaves. The program was well intentioned, as most programs area, but the reality was challenging only to be followed by a rescinding of the idea. "Here is a gift to help you in the future...oh never mind." No justice there. In Brownsville, Texas in 1906 an unidentified shooting by two or three people led to the dishonorable discharge of an entire unit--167 soldiers. These men who had spent their lives fighting for the United States lost their jobs, their pensions, and any medical benefits for their families. They were left destitute and disgraced and were entirely innocent.

These examples are obviously dramatic and tend to incite our emotions quickly when examined. But how many times do we witness social injustice on simpler but no less egregious situations? Lost jobs without reason, kickbacks for contracted work, mistreatment of those different from us, public funds spent for personal gain, unwarranted punishments, misappropriations, insider trading, discrimination, and the list goes on and on. While I am not a supporter of excessive legislation and enjoy living in my "people want to do the right thing" world, I do think we should continue to exercise fairness and equal treatment for all. Randian philosophies aside, we owe it to each other and to all people to create a society that allows for equality and prevents liberty at the exclusion of other people' freedom.

Food and Weight Gain

No question about it, we are getting heavier as a nation and society. Everywhere I look I see large people, some getting on buses, sitting at the doctor's office, shopping at Walmart, walking through the mall, eating at restaurants, going to the show, and driving down the street. And I have no negative judgment toward them since I struggle with the same problem. Having lived in London, and the British are concerned about weight gain as well, it quickly became apparent that the people were generally smaller than Americans as exemplified by smaller seats on the tube, buses, and in the theaters.

I attribute the problem of weight gain to our food and the preservatives we use in all our food. While I am not a product of the 60s, okay I really, I do believe organic food without excessive preservatives is better for the body. Keep in mind that I am not a medical doctor nor a nutritionist and have no real scientific understanding of food or the body. Yet my intuition and some research tell me that the food we buy in grocery stores and the food at restaurants has an inordinate amount of preservatives in it. When I put this quality in the mix, add in our love of sugar, and our general abhorrence of exercise, it is no wonder that we are getting heavier. And so as not to point fingers, I am a classic example.

In addition to the problems of food, our metabolism slows down when we get older, resulting in the storage of more body fat. My love of bread and sweets has caught up with me again and in spite of consistent running of 2-3 miles nearly every morning, I continue to gain weight. Not wanting to go carb free every again, I am aware that I need to reduce the carbs and make the protein work correctly in my body. This will add to my energy, make my running more productive, and force me to eat less in general. Time to avoid the sweet snacks, the large intakes of bread at every opportunity, and no need to eat several tortillas and chips at Mexican restaurants.

We'll see how it goes but right now I am committed to organic foods, more protein, fiber, and fewer carbs. I resent how our food makes us bigger but I am also sadly aware of my own responsibility and contributions to the problem.

Rewards Programs

Giving up on my rights not to be a part of a rewards program, I remain resentful of the modern tracking system of all purchases. Acknowledging the data that determines market trends in order to meet market needs and match consumer demand with supply, I do not appreciate my purchases being monitored. Almost every store I enter to buy something asks me to be a part of a rewards program sometimes called "plus" or "benefits" or "bonus" or any catchy additive to the purchase. These types of programs are enticing and even impossible to ignore due to the reduced cost of certain items, more coupons available, or points that add up to "free" acquisitions of items. To deny the rewards is to increase the expense. To accept it is to reduce expenses thereby retaining more income.

In all fairness, these programs are coming from large companies with centralized purchasing power. They are responsive to inventory turnover and aside from the profit motive, recognize that it is necessary to supply consumers with products that are demanded. I have a choice not to purchase from the large franchise and I suppose I do have a choice to reject their rewards offers. But employees are trained and required to ask the consumer to be a "member" and even politely rejecting the opportunity results in a pitch explaining the "savings" incurred through the rewards program. When a buyer is not a member and does not supply a card, usually the next question is for the buyer's phone number. If the buyer asks why, the clerk's standard answer is in case the buyer is not satisfied with the purchase. Of course the truth is that the store can cross-reference the number with the name and track the purchases and buying habits of the consumer.

Yesterday I bought two packages of gum. I often chew gum when I am driving in order to quell any nervous tension I might have and to keep my teeth clean between brushings. Purchasing the two cups of gum would normally cost $4.55 each but my rewards program allowed me to purchase each cup for $4.30 each at a total savings of $.50. The salesclerk seemed genuinely happy to point out how much I would save by being a member of the rewards program, as though she were helping me--which I suppose was true to an extent. I, however, momentarily resisted her recommendation to be a member and asked for the discount anyway. Respectfully declining my request, she politely said being a member was easy. Wondering if my wife had previously accepted membership, I gave her a phone number from a prior residence and discovered I was, in fact, already a rewards member, resulting in reduced cost for the gum. Joy and happiness.

Yes I did not have to pay as much for the gum due to my membership. But I also gave the store my purchasing information including my time of visit, what I bought, how I paid, and what else I might have considered. Cross referencing with past purchases, videos of my visits, and any questions I might have asked and suddenly my independence is gone, replaced by a Robert Tucker robot of data.

Granted I could have run into a convenient store and bought the same thing or maybe a discount store of some kind. I did not have to give them my rewards information or I could have paid a little bit more which would have given the store general consumer information but not specific to me. Yet I was willing to give up my independence for the sake of saving a few cents. Thus is the way of the economic world of today. We are at risk of becoming walking data machines. While it may be time to accept it, for some reason I resent it. Our personal liberty is threatened every time we purchase something. I remain opposed but also a contributor at the same time to all rewards programs.

Spiderman and Spidey Sense

I believe it started as a little boy when I first heard the Spiderman song with its augmented intervals, diminished chords, quickly shifting harmony, and complex tonal implications. No, I did not know any of this at the time but I do recall singing the song while playing Spiderman games outside. I enjoyed the cartoon, the comic books, and mostly the idea of a normal person "saving the day" and stopping the bad guys. Sometimes Peter Parker would be doing something rather common when suddenly his "Spidey Sense" would kick in with a tingle and he would quickly don his suit and become Spiderman. It was so cool and still is. He would spin his webs, stop falling objects, save children, and wrap up the bad guys.

The song itself is intriguing in a minor key with significant complexity that allows for tonal shifting to all kinds of keys. Emphasizing the harmonic minor and using borrowed dominants, the song seems to imply a dark but positive energy not unlike the character himself. Spiderman is always getting in trouble and is often portrayed negatively by the press and sometimes by authorities. A champion of the people, he seems to be on a precipice of ambiguity as to his intentions. The 60s style big band sound that accompanies the song is certainly challenging and I can imagine the players having a great time recording it while feeling the pressure of playing difficult passages.

The other side to Spiderman that people often forget is his knowledge of science. Peter Parker was a brilliant scientist aware not only of the contributions of spiders to our ecosystem but also thoroughly skilled in physics, biology, and chemistry. The ideal combination of science (okay, fiction too!) and heroism gives us a superhero who continues to fascinate us, winning the hearts of young men and women and capturing media attention through films and video games. His sardonic personality and tendency to be self-effacing only adds to his charm not mention our societal preference for the "imperfect" yet tenacious hero.

But why have I continued to enjoy Spiderman? Spiders are certainly intriguing with their amazing web design and their work ethic. Converting oxygen into a gel-like substance that then is transmitted into incredibly strong silk in order to capture food is a wonderment for sure. The suggestion that we are never more than 6 feet away from a spider of some kind or another is a little bit disconcerting but also serves as a reminder of how many spiders actually exist in the world. Yes, it is all amazing to me. I also enjoy crime dramas and heroism in many forms with the idea of making a difference in people's lives.

The concept of Spidey Sense is also quite absorbing with a strange intuition or perception of one's surroundings. While I prefer data for decision making, I must admit to using my "Spidey Sense" occasionally to predict possible outcomes of situations.

In the end, however, I believe it is the music that has a grip on my interest. Great melody, fun rhythms, and a Mozartian approach to chromaticism, non-harmonic tones, and motivic potential. So Spiderman, you are still the one for me!

The Music School Part II

After writing the previous post, I feel a need to expound further and clarify my position. The more we embrace and encourage an eclectic approach to music, the more we need to identify those elements that are common to all forms of music making and universally required regardless of the specific genre expressed. Further, a student needs to excel on something particular such as piano, voice, or an instrument. It is the process of excelling that promotes the needed discipline to advance the music making. In other words, a music student needs to focus a certain amount of attention on one or two things in music which will in turn become the pathway for music understanding. Achieve prowess on an instrument or voice.

Know your music theory. Whether a student pursues commercial music, video game music, film, art music, teaching, performance, composition, or church, he/she must know key signatures, two clefs, rhythms, and how music is put together. This is a must and requires memorization, listening skills, craft, and application. While the debate will continue, and there are some fair arguments for letting go, most of us maintain that knowledge of the keyboard is essential for understanding the elements of music.

Know where music has been and project where it is going. This is essential for drawing conclusions about the meaning of music culturally, historically, and sociologically. Similar to knowing history of our country or state, we study the past to reflect and respect the developments that have brought us to this point, to avoid the same mistakes, and to embrace the qualities of excellence that have contributed to the current time.

Participate in the collective experience of music making. This includes ensembles small and large and opportunities for group music making. Enjoy the experience and apply the musical and emotional gains to all musical events. Let the power of the ensemble shape your musical thinking in all types of music. Use the ensemble experience to hone your personal skills with the accountability pressure of being a part of a team.

Use technology to supplement all learning including video conferencing, web resources, recording, mixing, and portfolio development. Technology usage can be invoked in all types of musical experiences from solos to ensembles, classroom theory and history, and a multitude of events. In addition students should have access to technological advances for recording, software, and sound enhancements.

These and more should be a part of the music school. Is this any different from what most schools are presently doing? Not really. But schools need to work to REDUCE required classes within the constraints presented above while offering more music choices and options to students as they fulfill degree requirements. Teach the basics using mostly but not exclusively art music and encourage students to pursue other types of music as they progress in their studies. This may involve more electives in our degree programs or at least more tracks to include commercial music, world music, film, church, and digital options. Mostly it is time to let go of the idea that there is only one pathway to achieve musical development.

The Music School

Being a Dean of Fine Arts, and I often feel this is my calling in life at least for now, involves leading the arts in some sort of strategic direction. Rather than simply reacting to trends taking place in the arts world, it is part of our responsibility to project them and demonstrate progress in some sort of way. But in music this is challenging at best due to the canon of great literature from the past that exists to be performed over and over. For some reason, perhaps due to training or preference, visual art and theatre tend to move forward while continuing to respect the traditions from the past. Picasso, for example, was an excellent painter in an old model, with a flair for naturalism and ultimately expressionism not unlike the masters from the past. Yet he did not stop there, insisting on new approaches to art that made him one of great artists that continues to be studied.

In music, however, we have become mired in music from the past. This is mostly due to music from the past being truly masterful and meaningful, containing great expression and emotional content, not to mention craft and beauty. One cannot help but be moved by a Brahms symphony or gripped by Handel's Messiah or touched by Bach's Cello Suites or charged by a Mahler symphony or shocked by a Stravinsky ballet. Having spent my life studying, performing, and loving music from the past, it is not easy to embrace a newer model. Not unlike a reader who loves Shakespeare, Dickens, and Hugo but cannot seem to find merit in Doctorow, Roth, or Franzen, many academically trained musicians have fallen into a trap of only allowing art music from the past govern their entire personal emotional domicile of musical expression.

While it makes perfect sense to emphasize art music in academic music training, it does not serve the greater cause of music's need to have a broad impact on the individual and on the collective. It does, however, serve the less than 3% of the population who prefer past art music over the vast sea of music styles that can be found in contemporary culture. This may sound as though I am an advocate for abandonment of an art music based curriculum, but in point of fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Art music has withstood the test of time for a good reason--it is great music worthy of study and worthy of being at the forefront of music performances in a multitude of settings. Music by Beethoven deserves its rightful place in the curriculum regardless of what current media and market demands are saying.

What I do subscribe to for music schools is an eclectic curriculum that encourages and develops young musicians for all styles and all genres of music and music performance. Let us give students the tools to use to build popular music, art music, film music, world music, hip-hop, jazz, experimental, strange, beautiful, chamber, orchestral, band, children's music, church music, opera, theatre, and secular music. I dream of the music school that encourages and supports all levels and types of music making. A music school that contributes broadly to society and recognizes the inherent value of music of all types, shapes, and sizes. A music school that has found a successful methodology to prepare students for the enormous and varied world of music. A music school that presents the glorious past that helps shape the future, and a school where individual excellence leads to success in solo and corporate performance. A school where teaching children music is valued equally with performing on an opera stage. A school where composing a country western song is as meaningful as composing a symphony and where playing with a rock band is embraced alongside playing with an orchestra. A school where singing an old hymn is accepted the same as singing a new chorus.

Can such a school exist? Not without a lot of work and not without letting go of biases. But I believe it is possible and I believe it is happening.

Decline of the Book

Many have written on the decline of the physical book, most lamenting the loss while extolling the virtues of the physical book on the shelf or in the hand. Others take a more practical view with a little prophecy mixed in that the digital book is replacing the physical book for many reasons not the least of which is convenience and storage. Books are now seen as archaic objects, quaint in the way that antiques are perceived, odd little things of no value containing information that can be found within a click or two on the net. Of course there remains the charming but old-fashioned readers sitting under a tree or in a corner enjoying a physical book and they are seen as different, refusing to embrace the modern world, preferring to live their lives as Luddites rejecting technology, deeply suspicious of the digital world.

Having spent a lifetime reading and collecting books, it was a sudden change on many levels when I bought a Kindle and began to read digital books. No longer obsessed with every bookstore I see, I calmly walk or drive past a Half Price Book store without my palms sweating or my pulse increasing for a chance to see and hold books. The thousand books in my personal collection are losing their grip on my emotions, and I am able to go days without studying them and reorganizing them. I no longer feel a need to "complete" a collection or purchase a particular author's book to add to the others. A signed book by the author has no meaning to me and the words "first edition" are just words. Gone is the feeling of walking into a library and wanting to read every volume or peruse the latest acquisitions. Once believing that the knowledge of the world is found in books, I now believe the knowledge of the world is found on the internet--for the most part! I have lost my emotion for physical books--I think.

But in truth I am simply not reading as much as I once did. Still keeping three books going at one time, it takes me longer to finish a book. Audio books are fun and I listen to one almost every morning during my run of 2-3 miles. Currently enjoying the David McCullough biography of Wilbur and Orville Wright, I cannot decide if listening to a book constitutes reading. Perusing articles and staying current with the news are forms of reading I suppose and I look through a dozen or so articles everyday. A James Lee Burke novel continues to fascinate me with his beautiful descriptive writing style and his pervasive darkness and grim study of humanity approach to life. But what used to take a few days to finish, now takes a few weeks in some cases. I am not reading to completion very often anymore. I have been working on a history of the Brownsville incident for several months now.

At one time I raged against digital books but now embrace them. Yet somewhere deep inside, I believe we are losing something dear and special in our world--the physical book. Does our gravitation to the digital world wreak havoc on our emotions in some way that is not definable? As we forsake holding a book in our hands and embrace a digital world, are we in some way contributing to the constant distractions and bytes of information that threaten to rule the day? Having written often about the benefits of today over yesterday, I have to wonder if this is entirely true when it comes to books. Have we inadvertently caused our own inability to focus on one thing? I check my phone often for emails and texts, and I run through web pages the same way I eat chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant.

Yes I will continue to read digital books and my wallet and time schedule are much happier without the book obsession. But I miss the old days, the book nerd days, the bibliophile days, the collector days, and books in the hand days. I doubt I will return to an earlier time and I strangely look forward to the day my home office no longer contains a thousand books, but I also recognize that I and society are losing something special. Libraries are becoming social hangouts with coffee bars and bookstores are filled with activity. The aging spinster fussing at people for being loud is gone and card catalogs belong in tool sheds with nails and screws. Perhaps there exists room for the hybrid reader, one who enjoys a physical book as well as a digital one. Maybe unification includes room for both approaches and perhaps our cultural goal is to bring all styles of books to the world. We have enough polarizing events and objects in our world and books should not necessarily be one of those. It may be time for us to respect all forms of reading and reacquaint ourselves with what reading means in its totality. Regardless of how one reads, it is valuable to read something in some way.

My loss of the love of physical books is replaced by a love of our digital world. The gain is greater than the loss but occasionally I must commiserate as I reflect on a life of book collecting that is no more.

Blogging Delinquency

Quit blogging for several months and now would like to get back into it. During the blogging hiatus, my blog acquired a redirected code from javascript that took me quite awhile to remove. I am not a coder and had a difficult time identifying the line with the flaw. But I learned several new things in the process about coding and computers and eventually removed the offending code.

It is Christmas season and with it comes lots of complexity, joys, and the occasional sadness associated with concern, depression, and loss. But even in those quiet reflections of darkness that somehow creep into our thoughts, trying and sometimes succeeding to pervade all emotions, the threat quickly dissipates as the joy of the season reigns victorious, dwelling in our hearts and expressed through sounds, music, and giving. Even the most jaded among us cannot squelch the smile when seeing the joy on a child's face or watching It's a Wonderful Life for the 50th time or laughing when Ralphie visits Santa on A Christmas Story.

Admittedly, the Christmas craze seems a bit much to me and I could do without the excessive decorating. I have little regard for Christmas lights, wreaths, ornaments, packages, scenes, or snowmen, and the color red seems to emanate everywhere I go, mixing in with everything I see. Scheduling meals, family times, travel plans, all these and more almost seem like burdens in their inception rather than experiencing the joy of the moment. It can make Christmas season exhausting physically and emotionally, draining the energy needed to go shopping, share in the excitement, and participate in the multitude of activities. Add all this to having some ill friends and knowing about several medical problems, and it could all be the onset of depression. Yet I battle the potential darkness and replace it with the light of the world. As Jim Cramer says, the best way to overcome those times of insecurity and doubt is to get up the next day and go to work. Keep the routine and make yourself accomplish something.

Of course the other side of the story is that in spite of the normal challenges of life, Christmas really is a blast. Lots of great music, choir concerts, band concerts, musicals, activity, food, lights, children, and many happy people everywhere I go. There is a feeling of lightness and joy mixed with anticipation of Santa gifts, stockings filled with great things, and meals together with the ones you love. All these and more make this time of year fun. So no more Grinch for me...time for me to enjoy it and be a part of the festivities!

Writing is a valuable tool of expression regardless of the decline of reading in our world. Plus I come from a family of writers with my brother achieving great success in the publishing world of books and essays. Writing helps clarify thoughts and allows us to centralize the complexity of jumbled events that sometimes seem overwhelming. Rather than allow events and emotions to pass by unrecorded, it is time again for me to put these in writing.

Sound of Music Revisited

Recently attended a community production of The Sound of Music on stage. The impressive cast was accompanied by a full orchestra, well-designed sets, professional lighting, and constant attention to sound balancing. It was an exciting and profound performance and reminded me of how all the elements came together to form one of the greatest musicals in history--The Sound of Music!

Before I go on, I will give a nod to those naysayers who find the musical to be sappy, cheesy, fluffy, and weak in substance and reality. The beauty of the setting, the bad guys takeover, the family that started singing again, the escape over the mountains helped by nuns, the cute children, the wealthy captain, the sudden love, it all is a bit much for those who prefer grittier, realistic fare. But those of you who reference it as The Sound of Mucus, your opinions are your own and do not do justice to this masterpiece of emotional expression, artistic achievement, and lyrical musical writing.

Having seen the movie over a dozen times, conducted 15 performances, and played horn on 8 performances, I am quite familiar with the similarities and differences between the film and the stage versions. The film is an improvement although I do enjoy the musical nuns in the stage version. But the puppet show on Lonely Goatherd is marvelous and definitely missed in the stage version. The drama and the love story is not quite as defined in the stage version and we are never sure if the Captain left Frau Schrader due to loving Maria or disagreement with her politics. Edelweiss takes on greater symbolism in the film and the lines are generally smoother without ambiguity.

Yet no matter whether one sees the movie or the live production, it is a winner. Terrific songs with harmonic interest, engaging melodies, clever lyrics, and demanding vocal ranges. A story of love, family, Nazis, history, joy, fear, and hints of religion, politics, beauty, parenting, stubbornness, mischievous, and finally courage. It has all the elements needed for success with the film including outstanding performances in acting and singing. Only the coldest of hearts can ignore the "you brought music back into the house." Or the rich song "Something Good." All these and more make Sound of Music timeless and a musical for all ages. There is something in it for everyone, perhaps a tension or a song that hits the spot.

So even you tired of Sound of Music people out there owe it to yourself to go see the stage version and watch the movie. It is one of those musicals that makes the world a better place and will put a smile on your face and a little warmth in your heart. Toss out the cynicism and enjoy it for what it is...pure joy and meaning.

Zip Line Euphoria

Fishing with no luck and adding to my sunburn, I decided to experience the zip line that hung over the lake like a delicious chocolate bar dangling in front of me waiting for me to grab it. Expense aside, and it was on the pricey side, I enjoy the euphoria that accompanies zip lines. The illusion of control of the world as nature is conquered is both frightening and liberating as you speed down a cable to the landing point and glance at the world below. While you feel in charge and powerful, reigning over the land, in truth you are completely at the mercy of the harness and the cable, resulting in total powerlessness. Maybe it is the Yertle the Turtle syndrome where you want to be higher than everybody else but in the end you could end up in the mud!

Perhaps it is the sensation-seeking side of wanting thrills or maybe my enjoyment, almost obsession, with being outdoors and feeling the wind on my face. Whatever the reason, I love riding zip lines and plan to do more. This particular zip line went over a large lake and had no braking system on it at all. Coming in quite fast, I had the momentary fear that the large spring at the end would not be able to stop my ride. But it did with a strong jolt and suddenly my moment of speeding along a cable over a lake was over. It was great fun and I am ready to go again!

Imagine a world where we could zip from place to place without cars, where we walk from station to station, zip across town or even from town to town or across the country at high speeds. Rather than being enclosed in a plane, train, or automobile, we all benefit from the air, from nature, from being active and outdoors. Onward to more zip lines, more fun, and more euphoria!

Ideas for the future in higher education

Having spent much of my career in small private institutions, I wish to articulate 6 broad goals or strategies for the future with sub-targets within the broad goals. I will expand on these in subsequent blogs. These are in no particular order and are simply, and obviously, my opinion without any kind of endorsement. Institutional goals are different from individual goals without being entirely exclusive. No institutional goal has merit without individual and collective effort, and no goal can be met without acceptance. Regardless of the disclaimer, the following are based on experience and perception of trends and institutional needs.

1) We must embrace technology completely and comprehensively, 2) We need to encourage and support experiential learning, 3) We need to allow for student choice while focusing on relevance, 4) We need to reduce costs, 5) We need to create new programs and lose old ones, and 6) We should support student and faculty research.

As in all matters, integrity must rule the day and, as alluded earlier, nothing can be accomplished without belief in the target goal. Yet there is no doubt that for higher education to continue to thrive and make a difference in lives while making an impact on society and culture, it must adapt to a quickly changing world. The college experience is an invaluable one and treasured by people throughout their lives. We continue to cheer for the mascots and continue to be proud of our Alma mater, always desiring victories on the field and in the classroom. But we cannot operate in the same way, doing the same things we have always done, replicating our own collegiate experiences, hoping our students will follow in our footsteps. It is time to take a risk within the boundaries of our mission, accreditation, integrity, and the community we wish to design.

The mission of the institution is central to all we do and should be fully embraced by all constituents, driving the institution forward in its curriculum, its delivery, and its quality. The mission should not inhibit creativity nor stifle innovation, but instead should serve as a catalyst for development and improvement through higher expectations by nurturing an environment of creativity and unbridled ideas. These higher expectations, achieved through innovation and progression of curriculum, have the ability to transform not only learning but the institution itself.

Roll up your sleeves and let's get to work.

The Liberal Arts Institution

Sometimes cultural attitudes shift in thought and philosophy, reshaping the way we think and the way we respond to certain events be they sociological, spiritual, or economic. I recall as a child growing up in the 60s, many young adults had an "anti-war" mentality that resulted in a type of disdain for anyone who would enlist in the military or even accept the draft. The "heroes" of the time were not those fighting for human freedom and trying to end the tyranny but rather those who evaded the draft and carried peace signs. Returning troops were sometimes booed and hissed as they disembarked from a plane upon their return from the fighting. Students talked naively and inanely about an "immoral" war and the benefits of isolationism.

Yet time marched onward, as it is wont to do, and now society holds in high regard those brave men and women who fought and currently fight for our country and for our freedoms we enjoy. We honor and elevate the military as it defends our country, fights for democracy, and wars against terrorism. We as a society have changed and will continue to do so in some way. Those not in favor of military service remain silent. Cultural shifting gives us more tolerance for differences, public concern about the environment, less dogma, awareness of global trends, more medical breakthroughs, fewer physical books, more knowledge, social connectivity, and maybe less dependence on one person. Technology provides, at least to an extent, the knowledge needed to catapult our interests to another level.

Being a hat wearer, I have noticed pictures from the first half of the twentieth century showing that most men wore hats. It is always a pleasure to walk into an old building and find a hat rack. Today students often wear caps but they leave them on in a building and there are rarely, if ever, hat racks. Society changed and the bald, hat wearing man is now discriminated against and has no place to hang his hat! But we will arise and our time will come again. With our ascension into our rightful place, we will see the return of the hat rack (actually I kind of doubt it will happen!).

The growth of the non-denominational church came partly in response to denominational restrictions and the frequent parlaying of theological ideals within each church. Growing weary of such dissension, people began to form their own churches apart from denominational association. While the loss in collective giving has been painful, for many the freedom is worth the loss. Such activity is an example of shifting cultural changes in spiritual formation.

In higher education, we are in a change of some kind with a multitude of opinions and shifting attitudes toward education and the future. Many will argue that college can no longer serve its liberal arts practices and that all training should be professional and career-oriented. Others hold steadfastly to the liberal arts concept of higher education that respects the well-rounded thinker, the graduate with knowledge in many areas, the student who contributes to society through refinement, who recognizes the heritage of our world but who possesses the skill to avoid past mistakes, the person whose mind and body have the discipline for facing the future with courage, conviction, and productivity. All these goals and more comprise the purpose of the liberal arts education.

But the flurry of professional and technical schools now threatens the core of a liberal arts education. Students, their parents, even politicians are no longer focusing on the benefits of a broad-based education that includes history, math, science, English, arts, philosophy, and physical well being. Instead, the concern seems to be gainful employment upon graduation and the skills needed for career success. In this case, the customer has moved from the faculty member to the student to the employer. Do we in traditional liberal arts institutions retain our heritage of the liberal arts that goes back to Greek philosophers and forms the core of what it means to be an educated person? Or do we discard all that liberal arts represents and simply teach the skills and knowledge required for a chosen profession? The old adage of teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime can be argued on either side of the equation. Should we give him the knowledge needed to fish, hunt, farm, cook? Should we teach him to fish so that he works to alleviate world hunger, invest resources, contribute positively to society? Does he need to understand the environment, physics, biology, business, the arts, his own health, the chemical makeup of fish, perhaps other languages in case he encounters people from foreign countries?

The question, however, is what to do? What do students need to know for their future? Specific skills or broad knowledge or both? Where will we land on this controversy? Will we abandon the educational practices that have served higher education so well or do we desperately hold on to a model that no longer is effective? Is there a balance?

The road to truth is often painful but clear and it seems to me that the answer lies in an eclectic and guided curriculum with a directed and comprehensive invoking of technology. Colleges must be nimble, holding to the ideals of what an education means but respecting employers' need for skilled employees and entrepreneurship. Obviously supply and demand will ultimately rule the day and will shape the forces of college curriculum, but meanwhile it is time for colleges and employers to recognize those areas that technology can provide and those areas where face to face learning needs to happen. Not entirely sure of the answer, I believe a reduction in broad liberal arts courses, increased choice in classes, and professional tracks toward employment are the trajectories of the colleges of the future. Thrown in the mix will be more use of technology, online courses, video, experiential learning, and interactive education.

Rather than fighting the change and insisting on the past, colleges must embrace the change if they are to survive. Schools with substantial endowments will continue the journey established by the past, but other schools must find new ways to educate students for the future. Such is the way of cultural change.

Bach, Financials, and Running

Back in the running mode, I try to hit about 20 miles per week with Saturdays being the long run day. The recent weight gain has impacted my distance and speed, and I often find myself walking in the middle of the run. Yet, risking imperiousness, I will admit to having a resting heart rate of about 60 which is supposedly good for a 54 year old man. Running continues to be euphoric and it is hard to describe the glorious feeling of the wind on my face as I pound the pavement and breathe quickly. The sounds I hear, besides my own exertion, are generally pleasant and include birds, dogs, cars, sometimes children playing, and the wind as it blows through the trees. Sound continues to be meaningful to me and I often wish I had the power to hear the ants walk, the spiders spin their webs, the birds fly, and the clouds move. Waxing poetically, however, about the world is not my intention on this fine morning. Rather I wish to address what kind of music matches what kind of book.

When running, I often listen to audio books. I generally listen to fiction followed by non-fiction with most books lasting approximately 12 hours which gives me around 2-3 weeks per book, considering a few days here and there to listen to the sounds of world instead. Adventure fiction is great for running whereas non-fiction with facts is less propelling but more interesting than fiction. After finishing "The Girl on the Train" which I found to be a dull story in spite of its popularity, I downloaded "Financial Literacy: Finding Your Way in the Financial Markets." It is an informative read (or rather listen) and I am enjoying it. What is perplexing to me however is the opening music for the book was a Brandenburg Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach. Not that it was not thoroughly enjoyable and "hit the spot" as I started my long Saturday run. The counterpoint, textures, joyous harmony, complexity, and aesthetic satisfaction of the music was the perfect choice for me this fine morning as I ran and learned about the financial markets.

But why Bach? In what ways does the music of Bach set up or foreshadow or represent a book on finance? Is it that people who read or in my case listen to this book are generally older, more educated, sophisticated people, or maybe old fuddy duddies? That sounds as absurd as is assuming Bach is for older academics only. Is it that the complexity of Bach including his brilliant use of contrapuntal devices to add form, tension, and structure to his music match that of a book designed to explain the complexity of the financial markets? Maybe the music was picked randomly and anything would have been fine...say a Mahler symphony or something by Philip Glass. Or perhaps the opening music could have been disco or reggae or a rap on finance? Maybe this was just a legal decision, after all Bach's music is in public domain and does not require permission or ownership to perform.

Perhaps the music should have been hard rock or Jurassic Park or maybe some opera or Johnny Cash? Is the use of Bach a sign of the revitalization of "classical music" in our culture? Or maybe its rarity in popular culture sets it apart as unique and special, signifying the special qualities of the book? Frankly, I am not sure why Bach was selected as the music to begin the audio book on finance, but I did enjoy it.

Yesterday is Gone and so is the Woodshed

Being an avid anti-luddite and therefore embracing new technology on every level possible, my profession, however, borders on the archaic, admittedly charming, world of an age long gone. Not that this something negative necessarily for in fact I do miss certain practices of the past. I miss having black and white television, 3 channels, no remote, physical encyclopedias on the shelves, cars with steel dashboards (that is another story and the reason I have a scar above my eye!), record players, dial phones on the wall, hymnals, coffee percolating, maps in hand, and a slide rule for calculations. I also miss being "pill-free" but that is again a separate topic!

But the world marches forward and the wind blows freely in spite of our efforts to control it. Harnessing the wind and using it positively is one thing but stopping it is another. Progress cannot be and should not be inhibited, particularly by our individual preferences for that which exists in a previous time. Not that there is anything wrong at all about preferences. After all there is no doubt that preferences shape our personal existence. A person is certainly welcome to prefer riding a horse or studying a Rubens or balancing a checkbook or taking a bath once a month (a practice from earlier centuries), but to thwart the preferences of others through active campaigns against progress is patently unfair and in fact a worthless endeavor.

I will say, however, that in a way I appreciate the Luddites of the world, people who hold on to a past practice or a perceived simpler existence. People who remain suspicious of our technologically driven world. Those are the ones who keep some of us in check and prevent us from going all in on technology. Sometimes I do appreciate someone tapping the brakes and reminding me of the very few benefits of the printed page or the inevitable "lecture" containing facts (facts that incidentally are available with a couple of clicks of a mouse). I always smile at the phrase "the good old days" when life was better without all the technology surrounding us.

Yet I read an article asking the question, do we really want to return to a time without a cell phone or unlimited television stations or computers? Do we really want to make coffee over an outdoor grill everyday? http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/05/andrew-ohagan-technology/. We may have become dependent on the cell phone but, frankly, I am glad and do not wish to return to a previous time without it. Communication is instant and fun. Banking and money management are more accurate. Writing is definitely easier as is shopping. Finding places to eat or even vacation is a snap and even knowing the best roads to avoid traffic problems is amazing.

As Gus McRae says in Lonesome Dove, "yesterday's gone and you can't get it back." While you can learn from yesterday, you cannot return to it, nor would you really want to do so. It is time to be current, contemporary, vital, and progressive. Admittedly this is at times a difficult requirement. I recall teaching a student and I told her she needed to "woodshed" a passage. But as I thought through my suggestion, it occurred to me that she might not have fully understand what I said. I looked at her and asked, "Do you know what woodshed means?" She said no. I then proceeded to explain the history of the woodshed and how it has come to mean hard work or improvement. My words, however, sounded hollow and old-fashioned, even to me. How often do we use archaic language that has little to no meaning to other people? How often do we invoke yesterday to explain today?

I believe we tend to live in the past, reflecting on past mistakes, past successes, old challenges, hurts, joys, and preferences. We carry our history on our sleeve and engage it whenever we don't fully understand the present or exactly how to deal with the current situation. For many that means fighting for the "old days", whereas for others it means refusing to accept a new way. While this is not a problem necessarily by itself, it becomes troublesome when the lack of individual progress impacts the collective need to press forward.

In a way, however, I don't believe it matters in the end for time and progress will happen regardless of what we think or prefer. Entrepreneurship in action mitigates the efforts of the naysayers and those marching forward will eventually crush the efforts of those who only live for yesterday.

Administrative Yips

A consequence of the current cultural clash in higher education and the arts is the dreaded disease known as the administrative yips. In sports an athlete who develops the yips loses some physiological skill that is necessary for success. This could be a baseball player who loses the ability to follow through on a throw or to move to his right or make a level swing. In bowling it could be someone who suddenly cannot take the proper number of steps. When a player gets the yips, he or she can no longer function the same way and either must conquer the weakness, find another way, or do something different outside of the discipline. Often the yips occur in sports following an injury or a mistake on the field as well as having to face an formidable enemy of some kind or other.

Administrative yips manifest in a lack of confidence in making sound decisions. In the current climate of concern over economics, quantity, quality, technology, personnel, progress, integrity, legalities, privacy, classicism, modernism, and the unending responsibility to lead positively, it is no wonder that administrators often lose confidence and wonder which way to turn. All it takes are two concurrent decisions that made a negative impact and suddenly the yips set in and the next decision feels uncertain. This is followed by insecurity, doubt, and a kind of fear of the unknown, leading to depression, confusion, and finally administrative impotence. Administrators floundering in a quagmire of doubt may give up or emphasize that which does not matter, giving themselves authority over trivial, inconsequential concerns that in analysis are banal without substance.

I recall at a previous position being concerned over the lack of students' ability to articulate a musical thought or idea. Yet I was also keenly aware of how requiring all graduating seniors to present a public speech on a musical topic for all the faculty was difficult for scheduling and for convenience of faculty at an involved time of year. I further hoped for a way to document and assess the content and delivery of the 5 minute speech. After thinking through these issues, I had the brilliant idea for students to prepare their speech and deliver it to a video that would then be distributed to all the faculty. The faculty would then watch the video at their own convenience and assign an objective grade. We then had a record of the speech, faculty had time to assess it, and students did not feel the pressure of delivery at a public event. It all made sense but was a dismal flop. Faculty did not watch it, students did a poor job, and nobody had respect for the process. Why?

One problem was that I did not get faculty buy-in for the process. Another problem was that the faculty did not live in a digital world and preferred face-to-face live teaching. My efforts to help their own schedule did not resonate with them because they did not believe in the value of the process nor in the system. To their way of thinking, if something is worth doing, it must be worth doing face to face in real time. But this little situation that happened many years ago, gave me the administrative yips. After all, if you feed a dog and he bites you, you may not be as anxious to feed him again!

Now many years later, I am suffering again from the yips due to the complexity of the semester, the frequent questioning of my decisions, and the many things out of my control. Like Steve Sax who could no longer throw the ball to first base (he did overcome the problem eventually), I cannot seem to make my decisions reach the goal. Maybe it is a slump of some kind or maybe just a bump in the road, but it feels like the yips. Objectively I do know that most administrators suffer from the yips occasionally and I also know that not all decisions will be the right ones, but emotionally I do not like to lose. And maybe, just maybe, that is the crux of the yips...pride and bruised ego.

I suppose admitting there is a problem is the first step toward a cure and I have taken that first step. Now for the next step...seek Godly wisdom, be decisive, trust my instincts, and move forward positively. A few more days of the yips and I am ready to get in the game again! Here is a question for anyone reading. Have you ever had the yips?

Packages, Music, and Men

Received a package from Amazon yesterday and after opening the box, realized I had more to open. Being a big fan of Amazon and championing their system at every opportunity, I was excited to read the words "frustration-free packaging." My frustration over the packaging we deal with in our society is often at a high point as I open paper towels, socks, medicine bottles, a new shirt, yogurt, and virtually everything one purchases at a store. Particularly with a thumb that no longer functions as well, opening anything is a significant challenge usually requiring a careful use of scissors so as not to damage the product. The time wasted opening items must equal at least a month over a lifetime!

But much to my excitement, the package claimed it was "frustration-free packaging." Diving in with a smile on my face and joy in my countenance, I began opening the package. I'll give them this, it did not require scissors and it was much less frustrating than packages one gets at Walmart or Dillards. But it was not frustration free and I once again felt the pain of cardboard as I push and pulled to get the items out. I suppose, however, that true frustration-free packaging to me would mean someone walked up to me and handed me the item which I would then begin using without any preparation. I guess I will accept the idea of "less frustration" in the packaging of Amazon products. After all, it is still a terrific company.

Studying the life of Stevie Wonder and thinking through musicians from the past and present, I am a little concerned about two trends in music training. One is that fewer students are taking piano lessons for any extended time and two is that fewer boys seem to be involved in music apart from playing in band, and then sometimes for only a short time. I have no empirical evidence to support this claim and would like to be proven wrong, but it does seem to be true by all appearances. When did music become a "feminine" activity? Is this true for all the arts? Males do sports and girls do arts? This makes no sense to me and makes me wonder if our "football" based culture is somehow contributing to this absurd stereo-type. Yet, even as I type, I have to believe it is a temporary cultural change that will not be sustained. Art belongs to everyone, male and female, just as sports also belongs to the masses.

Meanwhile to all those artists out there, whether that be in visual art, music, or theatre, I urge you to continue your journey. There is a place for you in the world but be mindful of shifting attitudes toward the arts. They are valued but maybe not in the same way they once were. The wise and nimble artist stays current with trends while seeking after integrity in all things. Mostly, let's move away from any kind of notion that the arts are a "feminine" endeavor. What an absurd idea.

City vs. Country

Having lived for 12 years in the country on 13 acres but now living in the city surrounded by houses on either side, I can find merits for both. In favor of city living: mail service and trash service. We can now walk down a short footpath to our nice mailbox and pickup the mail each day. This beats having to go into town to the post office and retrieve the weeks mail from the box. Regarding trash service, it certainly became a chore to haul the trash to the landfill or to once a week roll the large green receptacle down the long driveway to the street. We now have a very short trip from the house to the street where it is picked up twice a week. Tax dollars working for the residents! But, wait, tax dollars...yikes. We are paying nearly three times as much for taxes as we ever did in the country.

We can now get to the stores, the restaurants, the mall, the theatre and work in short order without much preparation and without undue and complicated scheduling. When we want to see friends or have a social outing, a call or two and we are together enjoying a meal, a concert, or a movie. Great fun and certainly "modern" in our progressive society. Church is close, parks are near, the airport is 5 minutes away, museums, galleries, and there is no denying the value of having a doctor and hospital nearby. All these and more make city life the preferred residential choice.

In the country we had skunks, snakes, raccoons, rodents, wild cats, wild dogs, coyotes, drought, dust, scorpions, wasps, and the ever present fear of wildfires. I kept a gun and knife handy and never stopped trying to get rid of cactus and mesquites that constantly threatened to take over what little grass struggled to live in our front and back yards.

So why in the world do I miss country living? The space, the sky, the quiet, the solitude, the rugged individualism, the removal from society, all these and more contribute to my slight discontent with city living. Living in the country, I never felt the desire to get away or take a vacation, but in the city, the idea of going somewhere else is compelling. Home, of course, is where the heart finds joy, but in the city, your home is a stone's toss to your neighbor's home. In the country, feel free to throw a stone far away, there are no neighbors who can see nor care. In the city, the neighbors may not know you but they are curious and are constantly watching your yard for a hint of neglect or some kind of nefarious activity.

Yes, I miss the solitude and the space. Conveniences aside, the magic and charm of the country is still in me, and while I love my home, perhaps one day I'll live in a place that contains the best of both worlds...a home in the country with the city nearby.