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Will It Go Round in Circles?
Mike Lawson | September 6, 2021It is hard to make plans these days, isn’t it? I’m so ready to make them, but the same old used to be is lingering in our new normal that is constantly changing. I am really eager to get back to travel, not just because I’m stuck at home putting on the COVID pounds and […] Read More... -
You Go Back, Jack, and Do It Again…
Mike Lawson | August 13, 2021The mood among the music educators and related professionals I regularly consult as editor of these music education magazines is one of cautious optimism for the return to school. There were glimmers of hope, vaccine rates at one point starting to increase before leveling, then falling off. This Delta variant has everyone on edge again. […] Read More... -
Time May Change Me…
Mike Lawson | July 10, 2021This will be my final column of Perspective as an employee of Timeless Communications, who have employed me in this role for nearly seven years. It has been a lot of fun, and I have enjoyed the work immensely. So much so, now I own the job. Well, to be clearer, I actually acquired four […] Read More... -
Everything Old is New Again?
Mike Lawson | June 12, 2021So, can it be true? We are going back to some kind of post-COVID possibility? That’s sure what’s on the table right now and wishing it into existence has to be equally met with actions to make it so. It seems a lot of the same people screaming about kids going back to school are […] Read More... -
It Don’t Come Easy
Mike Lawson | May 4, 2021It’s a Ringo Starr song title, not incorrect grammar, per se. Isn’t it the truth? Learning an instrument is hard work. It’s fun work, but it is hard work. Maintaining your level of competence is hard work. Growing further beyond your level of competence is hard work. I finally got to return to the stage […] Read More... -
Rust Never Sleeps
Mike Lawson | April 7, 2021It has now been over a year since my band has performed in concert. Read More... -
Get Back to Where You Once Belonged
Mike Lawson | March 6, 2021Everybody wants to get back to normal. We are all tired of being cooped up in our homes, dealing with working from home, never leaving, or just going out maybe to go to the store. We’re getting so close to the end of this. Or are we? It’s hard to know. The vaccines are becoming […] Read More... -
Perspective: The Black Roots of American Popular Music
Mike Lawson | February 6, 2021The music that inspired and influenced SBO editor-in-chief Mike Lawson as a kid, that made him want to pick up an instrument, to sing, all had one significant thing in common: African Americans. Read More... -
Happy New Year?
Mike Lawson | January 8, 2021
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Well, 2020 is over. That pretty much sucked, didn’t it? I am so eager to say, “Happy New Year” and hope you all have glad tidings and wonderful months ahead, but I don’t want to jinx it. The year started out so good, so full of hope and promise with lots of exciting plans in front of me. -
Good Riddance to 2020
Mike Lawson | December 3, 2020
Read More...Mercy, was the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without marching bands just a big downer, or what? But I digress… -
No Easy Answers
Mike Lawson | October 28, 2020
Read More...I don’t have any. This year sucks. It’s knocked the wind out of a lot of musicians, students, teachers, parents, and all things related. There is no national standard to follow, it’s a mess state by state times 50. -
Take My Money…Or Not
Mike Lawson | October 1, 2020
Read More...The local marching band’s instruments are in bad shape. The small high school is, like so many music programs across the country, disadvantaged in many ways, with multiple inoperable and ancient instruments.
