Page 12 - Voices-2021-10
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COVER STORY








      example, Dave said, “I had a student when he  provoking: “Honor your own thinking process.

      first started, no matter what position no matter  As a teacher, my mission is not so much to tell
      what he did, it was always the same note. He  them what to think. It’s more to lead by example,
      just could not change notes. I’m sure that must  to honor their own independent thought, to
      have been a little disheartening for him. I used  make their own judgments. I just get so fired

      the sandwich method with authenticity in  up, when I have a student that totally disagrees
      the middle, and met him where he was. So I  or agrees with me on a given point. I just I love
      said, ‘Wow, you have such enthusiasm for the  that. If I could imbue encouragement—so often
      trombone. You have fun doing this, don’t you?’         I think young people, older people, whomever—

          He’d be like, ‘Yeah, Yeah, I do.’                  we are bombarded with people telling us what to
          ‘Wow, that’s so great. Boy, what you bring  think. I think a lost art is helping people to think
      to the trombone is so special. I’m just noticing  for themselves. And please be honest, please
      that this is really an important note to you. You  give evidence when expressing a point of view.

      really like this note, don’t you? ‘                    If you don’t give evidence, it’s proselytizing. It is
          He’s like, ‘Yeah, I guess I do. It’s comfortable.  not teaching. And don’t take ‘No’ for an answer. I
      I like it.’                                            truly see the best of people. In communication,
          ‘You know, as great as that note is, I also get  even if it’s going one direction or another, I do

      a sense that you might want to try some other  my best to direct it so it’s the best in us. “
      notes. Is that correct?’
          So then you kind of build on
      that. It’s not me saying it’s bad that

      you can only play one note. It’s like,
      I’m meeting them where they’re at.
      They’re like, ‘yeah, yeah.’ And now
      they’re kind of open to how they

      could improve that particular skill.
          So we get them hooked, we get
      them interested, get some success.
      Also the eyes light up, and the big

      smile comes along. And just like
      any evaluation, then you end with a
      motivating message.”
          As our conversation came to a

      close, I asked Dave one final question:
      What would you like the next
      generation to remember?
          His reply, as always, was thought




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