Perspective Archives

Who’s the leader of the club…?
Mike Lawson | March 20, 2017
This month’s Perspective column is a salute to Tim Hill. It’s likely you don’t know Tim. But if you have made a trip to Disney in the past 25 years and taken in a school band, orchestra or choral group performing, you’ve seen Tim’s work.
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Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back
Mike Lawson | February 13, 2017
Last year we were celebrating the end of “No Child Left Behind” and the new “ESSA” or Every Child Succeeds Act,” wherein the arts were, for the first time determined to be part of a well-rounded curriculum. I went to Capitol Hill with educators, manufacturers, and members of NAMM to observe them asking their representatives to fully fund the bill, and to thank them for supporting it. It seemed like a hopeful couple of days walking around the House of Representatives. I left there thinking things were moving forward.
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What a Difference a Director Makes
Mike Lawson | December 13, 2016
This is the 19th annual “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” issue of SBO. We were, once again, blown away by the heartfelt, inspiring stories shared with us about these band director and orchestra leader candidates. It isn’t easy to choose the final names for each state. In fact, it’s rather difficult. This isn’t a popularity contest, so the most submissions doesn’t garner a spot on the list, though it certainly gets attention if the entire band gets together to enter their director and say amazing things.
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Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right
Mike Lawson | November 12, 2016
You are likely reading this with our horrid election season behind us. May I say? Worst. Election. Season. Ever.
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