A letter from the President
of the SCBDA, Robert E. Wertz, III.

Other Letters

South Carolina Band Directors Association

"A Letter From Band Camp"

"Dear Mom and Dad,

Band camp is going pretty well so far. Mr. Wertz says that he thinks we can really get a lot done if it ever stops raining. My roommate is real nice but she was snoring so loud last night that I had to stick some cotton balls in my ears. Oh and Sally was doing so well until she stepped into a patch of poison ivy just off the drill field. That stuff sure does make you swell up and itch. She ought to be all right in a day or two.

The food in the dining hall is not too good. All they ever seem to have is roast beef, chicken, ham, and all those terrible green vegetables that I hate. Yuck!! But the hamburgers and the doritos are great and you can eat all of the ice cream and drink all of   the sodas that you like. Mom, this really cute guy named Rick asked me yesterday if he could carry my clarinet to the auditorium for me. He is a doll!! He plays the trumpet and he is so cute. I can't wait to dance with him at the band dance tomorrow night. Calm down Dad.

I really like our show this year. The music is by some guy named Dmitri Something-or-other. The drill is difficult but fun. Mr. Wertz always says that he can teach anyone how to march. Obviously he is not watching the girl next to me. I truly believe that she has two left feet. He really got mad at the trombones yesterday. His face sure does turn bright red when his veins pop out.

The chaperones are real nice and they don't yell at us too much. Some of them seem to be having a better time than some of the students. Oh well, gotta go, the rain has stopped and Mr. Wertz says we've got a lot of work to do. That man does love to work. Looking forward to seeing you when you pick me up on Friday.

Love,
Susie

P.S. I've never had so much fun in my entire life!!

Ah, the pitter patter of little feet on the asphalt. The smell of the bus fumes from that bus in front of you as you "fly" through the night at a blazing 45 miles per hour. The cracking of the reeds, the dripping of the valve oil, the "whirl" of the spinning flags, the breaking of the drum sticks. Yes, it's that time again.

I have always loved the beginning of the school year. If anything, the joy has grown with every year of my teaching life. Each year I seem to rediscover how lucky we are, as music educators, to be teaching the brightest and the best students in South Carolina. I am thrilled that our state association has become a model for others. We are doing good work, but we must make the effort each day to continue the success of that work.

What are your resolutions for this year? We expect our students to be punctual, responsible, and to meet deadlines. We should expect no less of ourselves. They may forget their 7th grade science teachers, or taking P.E. as a ninth grader. They may not remember what they made on their first Algebra quiz or what was in the first edition of the school newspaper. What they will remember is YOU ... the way you handle yourself, the things you say, the kind of person you are, your willingness to listen, your praise, your criticism. Mold them, shape them - teach them how to be better musicians and better people. Where you lead ... they will follow. Teach them well. See you on the Road.

Robert E. Wertz, III
President
South Carolina Band Directors Association