Resistance ... and Resilience

During this past weekend I peeked in on the BOA Grand Nationals with a particular interest in how some bands were performing, notably last year's champion Avon (IN), "From the 50 Yard Line" star Centerville (OH), and of course the Texas and Carolinas bands.

And American Fork HS, from Utah.

American Fork, you see, was returning from a competition earlier in the year when a bus went of the road. A number of students were injured, and sadly their woodwind instructor lost her life.

Some bands would have quit. Some kids resist going on. American Fork - in one week's time, I found out - raised a quarter million dollars to get to Indianapolis.

What is it that drives some bands to collectively resist the efforts their directors, their peers, and their community? To resist relentless improvement, and be satisfied with mediocrity? The (developing) teen mind, I am finding (hello, MP and TP!) is a wonderful yet strange thing. Dr. Tim's seminar gave me some insight, especially regarding the allure of the 10% who are negative leaders (the resistance!) against the 10% who are positive leaders.

Still ...

Perhaps like the marketers trying to figure out and capitalize on the teen mindset and lifestyle, it is elusive. Some bands have figured it out, however. The directors, kids, parents and community ... implicitly or explicitly. And those bands have resilience, no matter what they face.

... .... ...

Ironically, American Fork's show this year is titled, "The Greatest Generation", the term used to describe the Americans who grew up in the depression and went on to fight in WWII, then brought a new age of prosperity to our nation. Who had ... resilience.

In some ways, and in some places like American Fork, there are some pretty good members of this new generation, too.

... ... ...

I drafted most of the above knowing American Fork had advanced to 2009 Bands of America SemiFinals. In the end, they did not advance to the finals. Still, they showed resilience.