They've checked out and left no forwarding address...

This time of year the students are already home, messing around, and wasting time (at least in their minds). Those with ordinarily good behavior and attitudes are starting to lose it - and those with poor behavior and attitudes are, um, disappointing (read, pains in the posterior) at best.

The special challenge for the music educator is that the music program cannot wind down because, well, the music programs have yet to occur. That is, we still have our concerts to finish preparing for and presenting. If non-music students check out they could receive a poorer grade than they might otherwise but that does not affect the other students. In the music ensemble even one ne’er-do-well, malcontent, or just plain airhead can ruin it for everyone. The student musicians must remain steadfast until the performances are "in the can." Even the Titanic musicians held out to the very end. (Although I'm not suggesting that my music students and I remain on the deck as the ship slips beneath the first waves of summer.)

Funny profession, this. As music educators we don't really fit in with the so-called, "academic" subjects (although I would challenge any naysayer of music's importance to a duel of research) and while we don't directly influence test scores we have an incredible indirect effect on students' academic prowess.

We often are the artsy type, with second jobs that require odd hours and co-mingling with other interesting folk. For our music programs to succeed we must, as such, require some of this oddness of our students. Part of that oddness is remaining at our posts, playing our instruments, while the rest of the party-goers are, shall I say, temporarily incapacitated.

It can be tough being the outsider, both in the role of educator and of student - so I will give them just a bit of slack. They can check out...but they still have to stay in the lobby and perform.