The Qualities That Make Some Directors Outstanding - Leonard

Britt Beil
MUSIC 23241
January 25, 2011

The Qualities That Make Some Directors Outstanding

               By now I have read many articles about different qualities that can make an average teacher into an amazing teacher and many of the articles have said the same things. In Mark Leonard's article, he points out a few different qualities that are very crucial to teaching. He mentions that you should set limits for your ensemble, get to know your students, deal with parents appropriately, delegate authority among parents or students, create a concrete and realistic plan, and be prepared for anything. He spends the majority of the articles with the previous stated qualities and concludes with a few more obvious traits such as patience with your students, admitting your mistakes, and ask for advice from your superiors who have been through all of this before. 

               At the beginning of the article, Leonard reflects on his first year as a music teacher and the obstacles he faced and overcame. I feel that he and I have a lot in common personality-wise. I, like him, can set all sorts of standards for myself but I am uncomfortable setting standards for others. Also I thoroughly enjoy conversing and socializing with people, but I am not comfortable telling people what to do. I also know that in the groups I have been a part of, getting to know your students is a very vital thing. When you know your students you are more aware of what they are capable of and you know how to push them to do their very best.

               I feel that delegating authority is a very important trait to possess when teaching music. By giving students important leadership roles, they are likely to feel a sense of pride and importance and can hopefully motivate their peers to be more productive and confident. I also feel that having a plan is of utmost importance so you never run out of time or overwhelm your ensemble with too much rehearsal. I am a firm believer in making lists of what needs to be done just because it will also keep you organized and that too is very important in schools. This article pointed out a few different characteristics that I have not spent much time thinking about.

Leonard, Mark. (2004). The qualities that make some directors outstanding. The Instrumentalist, 59 (1), 12-15.