Dr. Rooney's E-mails

(I just decided to post them here b/c my mailbox is over quota)

August 30th, 2000

    LIFE by the DALAI LAMA
 This is what The Dalai Lama has to say on the millennium. All it
 takes is a few seconds to read and think over. 
       I N S T R U C T I O N S   F O R   L IF E
 1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve
great risk.
 2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three Rs:
Respect for self
Respect for others and
 Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful
stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
 6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
 7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps
to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
 10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honourable life. Then when you get older and
think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
 12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
 13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current
 situation. Don't bring up the past.
 14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one i which your love
for each other exceeds your need for each other.
 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
FORWARD THIS MANTRA E-MAIL TO AT LEAST 5 PEOPLE AND YOUR LIFE
WILL IMPROVE.
0-4 people: Your life will improve slightly.
5-9 people: Your life will improve to your liking.
10-14 people: You will have at least 5 surprises in the next 3 weeks.
15 people and above: Your life will improve drastically and everything
you ever  dreamed of will begin to take shape.
 Do not keep this message. The mantra must leave your hands within
 96 hours. You will get a very pleasant surprise.
Have a great day and see you at rehearsal.  PR

August 31st, 2000

OK, this is my first message to you this year.  If you do not care to read any further that is fine.  These are just little thoughts that I will give you daily based either on school work or some motivational idea that I come across.  My idea was just to be another part of your support system as you work hard in preparation for life.  There will be no political or slants in these messages and I hope you find them worth reading.  Here goes:

1. GETTING ORGANIZED AND STARTED

One of the most important aspects of the beginning of each semester is getting organized and started on the right track.  Some ideas that I have found to work include making a plan for your space.  I tend to do the best work when I get my space organized and ready to start work.  Right now it is tough because I am so busy, but I make a plan to organize my workspace so I can find things when I need them.  Also it is important to organize your computer or disks so you know where you have stored information. Take time to label things carefully so when you need them, you can find them.  The next step is to schedule your day and evenings.  First schedule all your classes.  Write in your planning book or notebook everything about your class, location, time, instructor, and anything else needed to know how to get to the building and room.  On the first day of class the instructor will hand you a syllabus.  Put the syllabus in the front of your notebook for that class so you can refer to it all semester.  Next, schedule your study and practice times.  Make this a habit and you will find that every day you will feel comfortable doing this at the same time.  I organize my day by subjects, so I plan a time to study scores, read, office work, or correspondence.  I also schedule time for me to do things like exercise, which is a future subject that I will discuss. The next thing is to stay focused on the task each day.  The more you can front load your semester, the easier it will be for you at the end.  Work at something every day!  Reward yourself after you have completed a daily assignment with a favorite treat.  The P word (Procrastination) is our biggest enemy.  He lives among all of us.  Don't let him control your progress. When he says to take the next few hours and do nothing or miss a class, tell him you are too busy for such nonsense.  (Note I made Procrastination a male!)  The final part of the getting started part is setting goals.  Long term goals are ones like getting a degree and getting a good job.  The shorter ones include doing well in each class.  Then you can break them down to monthly, weekly, and daily.  MRD's, life is not like marching band, but life can be marching band if you will approach each day with the enthusiasm you approach the MRD's!  So, lets, get ready, get set, get organized, get started, and have a great day.  PR

September 1st, 2000

GETTING STARTED II
It is the best of times and the worst of times (I will write on this later this semester)!  Getting started is always that beginning of something new. It is the start of a new year, new month, new week, and new day. It is the start of new classes.  It does not matter if you were 2.0 or 4.0; this is a new semester.  The slate is clean!  So get started!  That is the hardest thing: starting a new project.  I was terrible when I was an undergraduate to procrastinate until sometimes it was too late.  When I went to graduate school I learned a great lesson of doing what is the most uncomtforatbvle thing first.  Make a list of each of your classes.  Each day look at the list and say what has to be done first.  The thing I don't want to do, l do first.  Use the beginning of the semester to get going.  Actually do those readings that the professor gives you the first day!  Read those assignments tonight.  If you are given a project to do, start today-gathering materials.  (The first thing I do each semester is just to clean my desk so I can feel in control.)  Use the early part of the semester for YOU! You don't need all those beginning of the semester parties because no one has anything to do!  Do something that will get you ahead.  Right now you are very excited about being back and seeing all your friends, but remember last semester and how stressful it was during the last couple of weeks.  Work now so you won't stress later.  Get things done today!  Each day is a new beginning that what makes life so exciting. So today is the best day of your life: GET STARTED.  Remember, make life like marching band!  Great to have you back.  Have a great day!  PR

September 4th, 2000

HOW DID IT FEEL?
So, we had our first performance.  How did it feel?  Was there a rush when you stepped on the field.  How about the crowd reaction!  Were you nervous?  Can you picture in your mind that excitement you had while performing?  What a high!  Remember life is not marching band, but life can be like marching band.  Try today to apply all the things that you did the last couple of weeks to get ready for this first show.  You worked very hard, you learned a lot of music and a lot of routines.  You performed at a very high level of excellence and you gave it your all. Now let's apply the same energy, enthusiasm, and focus to your school work this week.  Make every class have the same amount of your focus as you did Saturdays' performance.  OK, I know some of the things are not as much fun, but make them fun.  Make a game of how to enjoy every class.  One thing I always found that worked was having a friend in each class that we could talk about the lectures and share ideas.  It is a common ground thing that helps make the class come to life.  Go the extra nine yards and really get into the lectures, the readings, and stay on top of what is happening.  Once you get involved in the course you start to lose since of time and the material becomes fascinating. Don't have the "this is not important to me" attitude, we never know when something is important until we have studied the materials.  Make each class a special time of the day.  Get to your class early and sit close to the front of the room.  Don't day dream during class, you are wasting your time.  Stay focused on the professor and take copious notes.  I always take notes in an outline form trying to see if I can create the same outline as the professor is working from.  I also always type my notes as soon as possible as this is a great way to repeat the lecture while it is fresh and also, my hand writing is so bad I sometimes can't read my notes in a few days!  Make learning fun.  Make life like marching band!  OK, MRD's, let's go there and take no prisoners!  Have a great day and I'll see you at band!  PR

September 6th, 2000

GOALS

How are your goals?  Have you set them for this year?  We all have dreams, but do you have goals?  Have you written them down?  It really works, trust me!  My favorite quote about goals is by the famous baseball player and coach, Yogi Berra.  He said, "If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else!"  That is so true.  Many people go through life in a fog with no purpose.  Goals will give you focus. You should have several kinds of goals.  You should have the pie in the sky ones, like having a great life, great family, great job, being a great person.  This is not corny!  We all want to be good people.  We all want to be successful in life. We all want to be loved (I will talk about this in the near future).  You should have three types of goals: long range, mid range and short range.  Those long range goals are being the best person you can be, graduating from college with the best record possible, and having a rewarding and successful career. The mid range then becomes easy:  making each semester a successful one, building friendships, and working to hone those skills needed for your career.  Then the short ones are very easy:  going to class, taking notes, studying, practicing, meeting friends for quality time such as studying, exercising, eating great meals together, etc.
Try this-write your goals down on a sheet of paper.  OK, don't let anybody see you do it, but just do it!  On a blank sheet of paper write down all those things that you want to aim for in life.  Then write down those strategies that you think can help you get there.  Put this in the back of your day timer and review these every week.  Goals help us stay focused on the task.  Goals keep us on the right pathway that we want tot ravel.    Make goals a part of your life.  Just like these little memos are our goals for the day, you can create your own set of goals which can keep you on track in everything you do.  My favorite line from "Alice in Wonderland" is, " One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. Which road do I take? she asked. Where do you want to go? was his response. I don't know, Alice answered. Then, said the cat, it doesn't matter."  Know where you want to go:  SET GOALS!  OK, MRD's, did you find the Carrier Library!  If not, drop by there today, the books are still there!  Go out and have a great day and set some goals for yourself.  See you at 5:00 PM.  PR

September7th, 2000

PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST
As many of you know, one of the most important books that I have ever read is Stephen Coveyís "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People." It is not a book you read, but one you can live by.  It has so many great lessons of life which if you follow your future will be much more rewarding.  The 3rd habit is called "Put First Things First."  I am going to write about this several times this semester.  Covey opens the chapter with the question, "What one thing could you do (you arenít doing now) that if you did on a regular basis, would make a tremendous positive difference in your personal life?"  This in a sense is another way of setting your goals.  What could you do right now to make a positive difference in your life?  Well, letís see!  If I am going to school, that IS my occupation!   If that is the number one occupation, how can I make a positive difference in this occupation?  I can apply all my energies in being the best student I can be.  I can focus in every morning on going to my classes.  I can be attentive in every one of my classes, making sure I take good notes and staying on top of my assignments.  I can study between classes and at night so I am better prepared for my next class.  I can find others in my class that I can work with to help me better prepare for my classes.  The best way to learn something is to talk to someone about the subject matter.  Meet new friends and see if they do not want to share in a study time of discussion about the material that has been covered.  Donít wait for the last minute to cram, but start now in preparation.  One of the things I will talk to you about later is one of my favorite quotes; "Farmers never cram!"  Learning is behavioral modification and the mind can only accept so much information at one time.  Spread this out by daily and weekly study and preparation.  If you are in a degree like music, art, or dance, daily practice has to be a part of your routine.  You cannot cram to prepare for a lesson or jury!  Remember the joke about how you get to Carnegie Hall?  Practice, Practice, Practice!  Set out today to say to yourself what one thing can I do to make a positive difference? Stay focused on the task and your semester will be a gratifying one. Have a great day and Iíll see you at band. PR

September 8th, 2000

PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST, II
In Stephen Covey's book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," he states that independent will is the thing that is most important in self management.  It is the ability to make decisions and choices and to act in accordance with them.  It is the ability to act rather than be acted upon that makes one self sufficient.  He states that the word discipline derives from disciple, one that has values and an overriding purpose in life.  He quotes E. M. Gray, who said, "The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don't like to do.  They don't like doing them either necessarily.  But their disliking is subordinated to the strength of their purpose."  Herein lies a huge secret to your success in school, work, or anything in life: DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE FIRST!  Putting off those have to do things, means that you will do them later and maybe at a time you really don't what to do them or when you cannot.  Do them now!  Go to class, take notes, study, practice, clean your room, eat good food, build good relationships, read, exercise, and take care of yourself.  Make it a habit of everyday doing what has to be done first.  Reward yourself later with the fun things.  Make it a game that once you accomplish the thing that is most important, then give yourself a reward.  Covey states that, "ineffective people live day after day with unused potential. They experience synergy only in small, peripheral ways in their lives. But creative experiences can be produced regularly, consistently, almost daily in people's lives. It requires enormous personal security and openness and a spirit of adventure." Ladies and gentlemen,  your education is so important to your life. Knowledge is power.  Remember, our namesake, James Madison said,knowledge will always govern ignorance!"  So put those first things first!  Have a wonderful day and I'll see you at band.  PR

September 11th, 2000

IT WAS MAGIC!!!!!!
I thought the shows on Saturday were magical!  I was concerned, as always when we have one week to get a show ready, that we would not be up to our standards.  But we were!  It was a fine performance at half-time and a stellar one at post game.  Having our parents in the crowd I know makes a difference.  What did you do to make things happen?  You put all of your energies into learning new music, drill, guard work and dance.  You focused all your energies on one purpose because you want the Marching Royal Dukes and Dukettes to be the best ever every week!  You were!  You were spectacular!  Now, let's apply the same focus, energy, preparation, hard work, and quest for perfection on your school work.  Let's have a MRD week in class!  Let's  get to class early and review our notes from the previous time.  Let's talk to someone in the class about the material so you can become better aquatinted with the concepts being discussed.  Let's type our notes and make nice clear outlines of all the materials.  (By the way, something that is neat to do is to take your notes and make outlines for yourself of all the materials so it is easier to learn.)  Let's have some study sessions with our friends to review all the materials so far this semester.  Let's read all those assignments that are assigned for us. Let's spend an extra 30 minutes or hour in the practice room getting a jump start on your next lesson.  Let's make some new goals for this week to help focus in on the semester.  Let's think of each class starting with: AND NOW!!!!!!!!!  Yes, you can be a champion on the field and in the class room.  Remember, life is not marching band, but life can be like marching band!  have a great day.  PR

September 12th, 2000

PUTTING FIRST THINGS FIRST III
Mr. Covey says, "Organize and execute around priorities."  If we have set our priorities, then we can organize our time around them.  Everyday say, what is the most important thing that I HAVE to do.  Not what you want to do.  Not what someone else wants you to do, but what you HAVE to do.  Then go about the day accomplishing that task or tasks.  What sort of time manager do you keep?  Is it a day timer, palm pilot, or sheet of paper?  It doesn't matter, except have something!  Are you a list maker?  Well become one.  Use one of the greatest inventions of all time: THE PENCIL.  I always tell my classes that the shortest pencil is better than the longest memory!  Make list and notes.  Set your day out and plan the entire day, when I go to class, when I study, when I practice, when I eat lunch, and when I spend some quality time with my friends.  You have to work at your job (going to school) every day, every hour, and every minute.  Remember the old adage, "Farmers never cram!"  They can't have a year long vacation and wake up one morning with the crops in the barn.  They have to work at farming every day.  We have to do the same thing, work at your job (going to school) every day.  Every day we have to tend to the corn (Math), beans (Science), tomatoes (English), cows (practice room), and grains (reading and writing).  Every day we have to work on getting all the chores done so that at the end of the harvest season (final exams), we can bring in a stellar crop (good grades).  So plan your day, plan your priorities, and go out there little farmers and take no prisoners!  Have a great day.
PR

September 13th, 2000

BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND
Covey's 2nd habit is begin with the end in mind.  This is based on the principle that all things are created twice.  First there is a mental creation, and then a physical creation.  Like a building has a complete blueprint before construction starts, you should have your own blueprint before starting the task.  The carpenter's rule is "measure twice, cut once."  Once you have set your goals for the semester, you then start about building your house with careful planning of each day's events. If you control your construction, you control your destiny and then you are living in a sense of self awareness.  You are not at the mercy of others who want to script your life for you, but you are the independent producer of your own life.  Your goals, hope and dreams become that blueprint that you can live by each day.  People who have set their goals will base their life on principles that they can live by and not by others who want you to do as they do.  Principle center living is what great leaders have. They do not consult polls every day to see what is the most popular decision, they know the right thing because they have principles that guide their life.  Goals and purpose are so important for all of us.  So get your blueprints out and plan your new building.  All right MRD'S, go out and have a great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

A Smile From Dr. Rooney: http://www.funnygreetings.com/grouch.htm

September 14th, 2000

THE NEW IS WEARING OFF!
The first few days of anything are always exciting.  The start of a school year, a new job, a new friend, a new anything.  Then the new wears off and the routine sets in.  That is when it becomes boring.  Why is it boring?  Because we make it that way.  I tell my students in Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, "there is no such thing as boring music, only boring musicians!"  Do you get up in the morning and say, "another boring day?"  A few years ago the movie "Dead Poets Society" with Robin Williams was very popular.  It is the story of a young energetic teacher in a very privileged boyís private school.  He was an English teacher who was trying to get the young men to enjoy the classics.  His techniques were somewhat eccentric for the other faculty, but the students loved him.  He would tell the men, "Carpe Diem," "seize the day."  This became a cult saying and we saw it often on t-shirts and bumper stickers.  What a wonderful thought.  Seize the day!  You have two choices; one is to have a boring day or to have a great day.  The choice is yours.  There is no such thing as a boring day, only boring people.  If you are bored with something, you may not understand it or you may not be totally immersed into the situation. Make others want to be around you by not being so boring!  Make situations exciting.  Make your classes exciting by getting involved.  Make your day special. Plan some treats for yourself.  Meet some friends for lunch.  Meet some friends for a study session.  (When I was in college several of us would hang out in the music building and practice for 50 minutes and thing talk for 10 minutes and then would go back to the practice room.)  Play games with your day and make it exciting.  Reward yourself for some hard work.  Rewrite your goals today to better focus yourself on the rest of the semester.  Get that book that you have been wanting to read and start in on the first chapter this weekend.  Do those things that you have been putting off.  Wash your clothes!  Clean you room!  This gives you a feeling of accomplishment and also makes you feel in control. Use this free weekend to catch up on all those things that need to be done. OK, MRD's go out their and "seize the day," and make this the greatest day of your life.  See you at 5:00 PM, except the guard, you have a great day off.  You deserve it. PR

September 15th, 2000

LIFE IS NOT A DRESS REHEARSAL

Have you ever heard that statement before?  Life is not a dress rehearsal.  Well, college is also not a dress rehearsal.  This is the real thing!  You are living your life right now.  And this is one of the most important times of your life.  This is also the most fun part of your life.  I know that you hear that from your parents all the time, but it is true!  This is the most important time and the most fun time of your life.  This is the performance that is so important to you.  You know how you have felt performing with the MRD's.  It is fantastic! What a rush when Mr. Posey announces, "AND NOW!"  Your adrenaline goods sky high, your mind is focused, and you think when it is over how fast it went.  Can we learn to live our life like marching band?  Sure you can!  You just need to put the same energies and focus that you do with the MRD's.  Just think of how well you would do in all your classes if you used that same kind of enthusiasm.  Just think of the wonderful opportunity you have at JMU.  JMU is a great university with great students and a great faculty.  You should be very proud of yourself that you earned a seat at such a prestigious university.  Well, it is not too late to make this the real play and not the dress rehearsal.  Let's use this weekend to read this memo over a few times and think of how you can make your school work the same as marching band.  College is not a dress rehearsal, it is the real thing and what you are learning now will open those doors to a successful life and career.  MRD's, enjoy the weekend, you deserve it and I will see you next week.  PR

September 18th, 2000

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

Today begins the 4th week of school.  How are you doing?  Do you feel in control of everything?  Are you up to speed in all your classes?  How are your notes?  Have you done the readings, listenings, observations, assignments?  Are you practicing?  Do you feel that your life is in control or do you feel overwhelmed?  Well, now is the time to get things on your terms.  Don't put things off until the end of the semester. That is when you really get caught.  DO IT NOW!  You can't be that far behind, its only the 4th week.  OK, get up this morning and make a list.  Do it by subjects.  Put down all that needs to be done in each of your classes to catch you up and put you ahead of the game.  Rewrite your notes so that you can read them.  Decide to do one of those readings today, maybe even at lunch.  Catch up on everything that has to be done so that you are in control.  Maybe you just need to clean your room so you can find things.  How do I know all these things:  I did the same as you did.  I just learned the hard way! DO IT NOW!  Benjamin Franklin said, "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."   Today is the greatest day of your life.  Beautiful weather, great classes, great friends, great college.......JUST DO IT NOW!  Make that list and finish everything on it TODAY!  Get caught up and then reward yourself by having some quality time with friends.  Remember, we want you to SUCCEED!  So, get up, make that list and check it twice and have a wonderful day.  PR

September 19th, 2000

OLYMPICS

I love the Olympics!  This is always an exciting time to hear the great
human interest stories of the athletes.  The thing that comes to mind
when I watch this great event is that all these athletes are heroes!
They have all worked and sacrificed to arrive at this incredible event.
They are all heroes to their friends and families.  They have
accomplished some fantastic feats in the pool, on the court, and around
the track.  They are all heroes!  What is a hero?  Is it John Wayne,
Bill Gates, or Colin Powell?  Yes, they are heroes, but there are a lot
of heroes in life.  We can be heroes to each other with our actions and
thoughts.  We can inspire each other to strive for the finest by living
a great example.  You are all my heroes after the last two
performances.  You are proud of your accomplishments, your friends are
proud of you, your family is proud of you and I am proud of you.  You
have strived for the greatest in a lot of ways.  You have made it into a
top ranked university, a top ranked band, and you are a top ranked
student.  Now let's move to the next level.  As they say about the
Olympics, the winners always step it up a notch.  You are all winners
are you would not be here.  Your playing field is your school work.
Let's set out to bring some gold home from the field.  Let's have an
incredible string of victories that would be unprecedented in modern
times.  Let's make a new record that will stand for others to envy.
Let's stand on the victory platform of academe.  OK, you little heroes,
go out their and seize the day and I'll see you on the winner's
platform.  See you at band.  PR

September 20th, 2000

MOTIVATION

The word motivation comes from its root motivate, which means to
stimulate to action; provide with an incentive or motive.  What
motivates us?  There are really two types of motivation, extrinsic and
intrinsic.  Extrinsic is the easy kind, you learn something because you
have to do it to accomplish something or not have some bad consequence
fall on you.  You study your materials because you have to take a test.
You practice your music because you have to take an  audition or jury.
Anything that comes from the outside to stimulate one is extrinsic
motivation.  Intrinsic motivation is when one sets out to accomplish
something for the thrill of completing the task.  Sounds simple doesn't
it?  Just think, you are going to have to take those test, write those
papers, do those research projects, etc.  Why are you going to do it?
To make a grade?  That is consistent with your goals of graduating,
right?  Well, if you are going to work so hard to earn something, why
not work hard to learn something?  Remember, learning is behavioral
modification.  It is changing your life with knowledge.  And remember,
knowledge is freedom!  Knowledge is power.  Remember the father who told
me you, "Read to Lead!"  Well, if you are going to work so hard at
school why not approach it with a different attitude.  I want to
learn!!!!!!!  If you will approach school with this attitude you will
learn and the side affect will be good grades.  If you are only trying
to make a grade it is a lot of hard work for nothing gained.  Use the
same energies and work to learn.  If you know the material, it doesn't
matter what is on the test, you are ready.  If you will go about your
classes with this attitude, you will enjoy school so much more.  I hope
you had a great day yesterday and I hope this will be the best day of
your life.  Go out there and motivate yourself to learn!  Have a great
day and I'll see you at band.  PR

September 21st, 2000

HOW'S YOUR HEALTH?

I have talking to you each day about your schoolwork, but how is your
health?  Do you feel good?  Have you caught the obligatory fall cold?
Are you getting enough sleep?  Are you eating fruits and veggies?  Are
you drinking water?  Are that talk about food groups really works!  Try
watching you food and beverage intake and put some healthy things in
your diet.  Try fewer fries and burgers, try yogurt, try fruits,
veggies, fish, chicken, and lots of water.  Have you started exercising
since school started?  Have you been to UREC?  It's fantastic!  State of
the art equipment in a neat building.  Harrisonburg is a cool town to
jog around.  Lots of parks and beautiful scenery.  There is a great
trail over by the Convo that runs to the Arboretum.  Mrs. Rooney and I
are joggers.  (Unfortunately she severely sprained her ankle, but has
built back up to a mile a day.)  We usually get up early in the morning
and do Tae Bo and some jogging.  It starts our day out great and helps
with our hectic schedule.  We also try to eat healthy.  We have cereal
and fruit for breakfast, veggie burgers for lunch, and lots of fish and
salad for dinner.  So start your own health kick this weekend.  Eat good
food, drink lots of water, and start some sort of exercise program.
Have a great day.  PR

September24th, 2000

HOW IS YOUR WEEKEND?

I hope you are enjoying your weekend. We all deserve time off.  It is
great to not have to do things for a couple of days.  However, it is
always great to
focus on the week to come and get ready for a good week.  What is coming
up?  In my world, I have Symphonic Band on T&T, Conducting on T&T,
Wind Symphony on M,W,&F, MRD's everyday and a game next Saturday.  I
also have a concert with the WS two weeks from today.  That is the big
picture.
Then I have numerous meetings, lots of correspondence and e-mail to
answer, and the normal day to day of running the band program.  So I
spend some of my free time
getting focused on the events to come.  I have my scores to study, plans
to make the MRD's better, lesson plans for all my classes along with
reading a great new book, "Tuesday
with Morrie."  I make free time productive time and I have fun doing
it.  What does your week hold?  Test? Exams? Papers? Preparing for a
lesson?  Getting the music ready
for Saturday?  It doesn't take a lot of time, but just spend some time
this weekend focusing in on next week.  MRD's have a great ;weekend and
I'll see you at band.  PR

September 25th, 2000

A GREAT WEEK!!!!!!!!

Today is the first day of a great week!  This is going to be the best
week of the year!  That is the attitude you need to take into the first
of the week!  Not that the weekend is over, but this is a new beginning
to some great opportunities.  Plan you week carefully.  Plan each day to
accomplish all those things that need to be done. Looking at a whole
week instead of one day gives you a better perspective of what needs to
be done and you can plan better.  Come up with those goals for the week
and plan accordingly.  Plan study time, practice time, paper writing
time and even quality time with your friends.  Plan your week out and
stick to your plan.  Each day see if you accomplished all the tings that
needed to be finished.  This will give you a degree of control on your
life.  Donít procrastinate, do those things you donít want to do first!
OK, MRD's, this is the greatest week of your life..go out there and
have a great time.  PR

September 27th, 2000

COMMITMENT!!!!

I love the word commitment.  In the dictionary the definition is very
interesting.  It says that  a. "The act of committing; a giving in
charge or entrusting," and b. "The state of being committed!"
Yes, as in being put in a prison, jail or an institution!  There is a
great lesson here.  It is a short distance from you being in charge and
someone being in charge of you!  If you are committed to a cause,
purpose, direction, goal, values, and truths, you are in charge of your
commitments.  However, if you don't have those values as stated above,
it is easy for you to be committed.  Not to jail, but to the wishes of
others.  You oars don't have a direction.  Your rudder is turning in all
directions.  You have to have commitment not to be committed.
Commitment is another word that we can use for goals.  You are committed
to the goal of getting a degree.  You are committed to the goal of
getting an education.   You are committed to the goal of doing well in
each of your courses.  YOU ARE COMMITTED TO THE GOAL OF LEARNING YOUR
MUSIC, DRILL, AND GUARD WORK FOR THIS WEEKEND!!!!!!  You are committed
to have goals and plans that you are working to complete.  So, lets set
out this morning to have a commitment to excellence and not to be
committed!  MRD'S, have a great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

September 28th, 2000

YOU FIRST MUST LEARN TO SERVE!!!!!!

One of your Mothers asked me to send this one out again.  This is a very
true story about someone who was dear to me.  Enjoy.
A man that had such a great influence on my career was Hugh Warren.
Hugh was a very successful automobile dealer in Ada, Oklahoma where I
had my first college band job.  His son, Bronson was in my first band
there in 1974.  (Bronson is now one of the top band directors in
Oklahoma.)  When I took the East Central Band over I had 7 students in
the program and when I left to come here in 1982, our marching band was
150 and I had very fine concert and jazz bands. (This was at a school of
about 3,000 students.)  Hugh was my biggest supporter, fan, friend and
confidant.  Hugh had grown up in the darkest part of the depression in
Oklahoma.  He had worked his way through school by being a janitor at
night times.  He became a high school coach and his teams won several
state tennis championships.  He then opened a car dealership and became
one of the most successful car dealers in the country.  (This is in very
rural Oklahoma where there is not a large population!)  Hugh always gave
of his time.  He was very active in civic clubs, church related work,
supporting the university, and served on many state counsels including
as the highway department advisor.  Hugh remained an avid tennis player
and won many state and national championships in the seniors division.
Hugh was always there for me to call and talk to about anything.  He was
always excited about life and about people.  When every I felt down
about something, I would call Hugh and his advise would brighten my
day.  On his wall, he had a sign that he lived by.  The sign said, "Life
is like Tennis, in order to win, you must first learn to serve!"  The
word serve means a lot of things.  We all need to serve our communities,
churches, charities, and most importantly serving means giving ourselves
to help other people.  A pat on the back or a "job well done" is serving
to help others.  A helping hand when someone is down is serving.  We can
serve each other right now by being supportive to all our endeavors
especially our school work.  Talk to each other about how they are
doing.  Go with them to the library or encourage them to stay in the
practice room that extra hour.  Remember in order to Win you must first
have to Serve.  Have a great day and I'll see you at rehearsal. PR

September 29th, 2000

KNOWLEDGE WILL FOREVER GOVERN IGNORANCE!

I was given a copy of Ralph Ketcham's biography of James Madison last
year.  I knew very little of Madison except he was our 4th President and
he had something to do with the constitution and JMU was named for him.
Ignorance is sure bliss!  It was a very intense and academic read, but
it opened my eyes to one of the giants of our country and the man that
really set up the ground rules for the success of the United States.
Madison was a true scholar and intellect.  He was a true scholar of
history and political systems.  He knew what it would take to build a
Republic from a rag tag group of unattached states.  Not only did he
understand political systems, he had a vision of what it would take to
build a great society.  My favorite Madison quote is, "A popular
government without popular information or the means of acquiring it is
but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or perhaps both. Knowledge will
forever govern ignorance: and a people who mean to be their own
governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."
WHAT A MISSION STATEMENT!  I think that should be on all our walls,
screen savers, post its, and day timers.  KNOWLEDGE WILL FOREVER GOVERN
IGNORANCE!  I think Mr. Madison would be proud of his namesake and the
fine students that follow in his vision.  I think Mr. Madison would be
very proud of the Marching Royal Dukes and would probably have a MRD cap
and T-shirt that he would wear to the games!  I think Mr. Madison had a
vision for our country that we all must work to fulfill his dreams.
KNOWLEDGE WILL FOREVER GOVERN IGNORANCE!  I think it is our duty to
follow our namesake's dream and pursue that goal of a wonderful country
through self development.  OK, MRD's, here's you mission statement for
the day.  Let's start a campaign to stamp out ignorance and that begins
with each of us today.  That also would include learning your music for
this afternoon's practice!  Have a great day and I'll see you at band.
PR

October 2nd, 2000

PROCRASTINATION!

Over the weekend, I read "The Procrastinator's Handbook" by Rita Emmett.
I had read a review of it in the USA Today, so I thought I would give it
a try.  It is a great little read and has some wonderful points about
doing things NOW.  Her first suggestions is the one hour plan.  Take the
biggest task that you have and plan to spend one hour doing nothing but
that.  Time yourself and do nothing else but that task.  Don't let
anything disturb you.  Take the phone off the hook or go to the library
and get in some cubicle where no one can bother you and do nothing but
that task for one hour.  Even if it is not enough time to complete
everything, you can make a huge dent in the project.  Most of the time
when you put that much time and energy into a task you will find that
the project was not as difficult as you first thought.  So try it
today.  Schedule yourself an hour.  No socializing, email, phone, or
friends for that one hour.  Take your most pressing task or tasks and
put your head down and don't get up until the hour is over.  I bet you
will feel great after that hour.  OK, MRD's, go out and have a great day
and give yourself that one hour to complete your most pressing task. PR

October 3rd, 2000

TIME MAPPING

Julie Morgenstern has written two terrific books on getting organized.
The first one was call "Organizing from the Inside Out" and the second,
"Time Management from the Inside Out."  In both books, she makes a great
point in what she calls "Time Mapping."  It is very similar to the
concepts of Stephen Covey in that we should look at time as a road map,
so we know which direction we are always going.  She states that you
should organize your time the way a kindergarten classroom operates.
The kindergarten classroom is divided into clearly defined activity
zones so that the children can focus on one activity at a time.  There
is a reading corner, an arts-and-crafts area, a music corner, and a
dress-up zone.  Items have clear homes, so there is only one logical
place to find anything or put it away.  How does this apply to
organizing my time?  The same way, you put all those like activities in
their own place.  Make you a list of your activities.  That is pretty
easy, biology, theory, english, speech, conducting, etc.  Each course is
an activity.  Also in that list put a place for yourself, friends, and
family.  The self list should include your day to day management which
keeps you afloat.  Washing clothes, buying groceries, getting school
supplies, etc.  It also should contain those things that make you better
physically and emotionally like exercise, eating good food, getting
plenty of sleep, drinking plenty of water, and practing your religious
convictions.  It also should take in a place for relationship building
and of course, communicating with your parents.  (Not just when you need
money!)  After you have made your activities into blocks put them on a
grid or daytimer and put exact times that you are going to do those
activities.  Going to class is a no brainer, but schedule study time
into your day for each class, and practice time in a set schedule each
day.  This gives you a map of your day and week.  I still use a simple
sheet of paper which has all my activities for the day and week.  I
schedule my preparation time, my to do in office time, my return phone
call time, email time, and anything else that is on my activity list.
This really works because my day is scripted and I can then go about
accomplishing all those task that are most important.  Try this and see
if you like it.  OK, MRD's, go out their and seize the day and I'll see
you at band. PR

October 4th, 2000

HOW ARE WE DOING?

Did you realize that this is the 6th week of school?  There are 16 weeks
including test week, so that means we have 10 weeks left.  Are you on
course?  Are you caught up with all your projects, test, papers,
observations, etc.  Have you done all your readings?  How is your
practice schedule?  Now is a time for a little check up. Go through each
of your classes and see what needs to be done.  What are you putting off
to do later?  Is your room messy? Lots of clutter around your work
area?  Is you closet neat?  Have you washed clothes recently?  Do you
feel in control or do you feel stressed already?  Well, let's get
refocused.  We all have to do that.  One of my biggest faults is that I
am a pack rat!  I never throw anything away.  What is so funny is that
Mrs. Rooney is a neat freak!  She throws everything away!  I guess
opposites attract!  So, yesterday I decided to clean my large cabinet
which I have things that are over 20 years old and of no use.  I threw 2
large garbage bags of stuff away.  At first it felt funny, but as I went
it got to feel better. I have the best feeling this morning since I have
a much better grip on where a lot of my things are located.  So let this
be a check up time for all of us.  Check all your areas and clean out
the junk.  Have a great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

October 5th, 2000

I WANNA DO IT ALL!

Ironically, one of the reasons people put off doing things is that they
want to do everything.  And they want to do it all at once.  They want
the impossible.  You would not have made it this far if you were not a
motivated person.  One of the major problems with procrastination is
feeling overwhelmed by thinking of all the things we have to do.  Set
some priorities.  What is really urgent?  (I will talk about quandrant
II living shortly.)  What is really important?  Sit down and make a
priority list of what is the most important thing that needs to be
done.  Not the thing you want to do, but the thing that must be done and
then focus only on that task.  What really needs to be done today?  Is
there a test coming up?  Well, that is what you do!  Study for the
test!  It's a no brainer!  Well, yes it really is, because you are
thinking about all those test that are coming up.  However, you can only
handle so much at a time.  Choose that most important task  and "DO IT
NOW!"  Make that your new slogan for the day, "DO IT NOW!"  Pick the
number one obstacle and set out to solve that today.  Use the one hour
technique.  Take that task and give it an hour of your undivided
attention.  Excuse yourself from your friends and go to the library and
find the most obscure cubicle.  Set your watch for one hour and don't
let your head up to do anything except that task.  See if you are not in
better shape after that hour.  OK, MRD's, go out there and conquer your
biggest task and have a great day.  See you at band.  PR

October 6th, 2000

INVICTUS!

We are playing a number with the Symphonic Band entitled Invictus by
Brian Balmages.  Brian is a JMU grad who went on to the University of
Miami for a degree in film scoring.  He has become a very successful and
prolific composer at a very young age. I play everything that Brian
writes as I think it is my obligation to encourage young composers to
create.  Invictus is taken from the poem by the same name by William
Ernest Henley.  You may or may not know this poem or author, but you
know the last two lines: "I am the master of my fate I am the captain of
my soul."  Brian wrote this in memory of his grandfather who had
recently passed away.  This was his favorite poem.  It is a dark work
that ends with those great last two lines.  It is something that we need
to all think about everyday.  We control our own destiny!  We are the
captain, the master, the leader, the manager, the boss of ourselves.  We
our in charge of our corporation. It is not what others do to us, it is
not circumstances that make our lives, it is US that drives the boat.
The author Aldous Huxley said, "Experience is not what happens to a man;
it is what a man does with what happens to him."  Yes, we are in control
of our destiny which means that going to class is a good thing!  OK,
MRD's go out there and have a great day.  See you at band.  PR

INVICTUS
William Ernest Henley (1849-1903)

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from Pole to Pole
I thank whatever gods may be
For my Unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
finds me and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate
How charged with punishment the scroll
I am the master of my fate
I am the captain of my soul.  (1875)

MID TERM, LIFE IS NOT MARCHING BAND, BUT LIFE CAN BE LIKE MARCHING BAND!

This is the seventh week of school, which means you are approaching the
mid term point.  How are you doing?  You will probably have a lot of
test and things due over the next two weeks.  Are you as prepared with
your studies as you have been with marching band?  Just think what you
have accomplished?  We have performed three complete different shows.
That means you have learned 10-12 minutes of music, dance work, drill,
and guard work in 6 weeks.  That is incredible!  Have you done that well
in school?  Why not?  Well, don't tell me marching band is fun and
school is not!  School can be fun, if you will make it that way.  Are
you putting things off to cram at the last minute?  Don't you realize
that all the tests are going to come around the same time?  If you have
been working at it all semester, it will be much easier.  Studying
should be an everyday event not just getting ready at the last minute
for the test.  Remember, "Farmers never cram!"  That can't afford to,
they have to take care of their farm everyday.  You have to take care of
your farm (studies, personal life, things that make my life easier,
everyday.)  Are you up to date with everything?  Well, start today.  If
you have been procrastinating, then use the one hour technique to catch
up with the most important thing you have to do.  Try doing one hour
everyday of catching up on all those things that you have to do.  You
will be amazed at how quickly you can catch up.  OK, MRD's letís get
ready for mid terms and for POC. Have a great day. PR

October 10th 2000

HALFWAY MARK

In Rita Emmett's book, "The Procrastinator's Handbook," she says that
one way of getting out of the "overwhelmed" mode is to come up with the
halfway plan.  Otherwise, make yourself a time table of getting things
done by making a schedule that seems more manageable.  Say you have a
project due in 6 weeks, then make it half done in 3 weeks.  You can go
further with a division of quarters or thirds so that one third of the
work is done in 2 weeks.  A great habit is to divide your material into
smaller more easy to learn parts.  The best way to learn a massive
amount of material is to break it down into small increments each day.
(By the way do you use note cards to memorize material?  It really
works!  Try writing a concept or word with its definition on note cards
that you carry around with you.  This way when you have an extra 5
minutes you can pull out those cards and work on those concepts.  Try
something else, get to class early and get your materials out and study
there.  Always be early and let that be extra study time.  I know it
looks cool to show up right on time or late, but that makes you hurry
and then you are not focused on the next task!)  Make you an outline of
what is coming up in the next few weeks and the entire semester.  Lay
everything out and say what can I break down into smaller parts to
learn.  OK, MRD's, go out and have a great day.  PR

October 11th 2000

DAY PLANNERS

What sort of day planner do you use?  I have seen so many and wonder
what is the best?  Julie Morgenstern in her book "Organizing from the
Inside Out," says that the best planner is what works for you.  I have
used all kinds and still do.  I write notes on anything that's around
and then transfer them to my desk planner later. I actually have 3 tools
that I use.  I have the garden variety desk planner with each week of
the year laid out with times to write things into the day.  I use this
like a long term planner.  Meetings for next week, projects, games,
trips, etc.  I still use a legal size yellow pad to write down my things
to do and also to make notes. I always take that to my meetings, so if
an idea hits me in the meeting, I can make a note to look it later.  The
third thing I use is a weekly planner that I took out of a Stephen Covey
set of tapes.  It is a 7 Habits Weekly Worksheet.  This is neat in that
it has a place on the left side for Roles and Goals.  The roles I have
are Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Conducting, Marching Royal Dukes,
Director of Bands, and Personal.  By each of the roles I put weekly
goals.  I then take those goals and place them in an appropriate spot
and assign it a time to deal with that goal.  Other words I schedule my
study time.  I wish I had had this in college.  It is a great little
idea.  Just take each of your classes (you roles) and put down next to
it your goals for your roles for that week.  Test, paper, project, etc.
Then assign an appropriate time to accomplish that task.  it really
makes your time more manageable.  Julie Morgenstern uses a similar
planning technique which she calls "Time Mapping."  It is the same
concept in that planning becomes a linear concept instead of a vertical
one.  Think the big picture and then accomplish your goals.   OK, MRD's
have a great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

October 12th 2000

PARADE OF CHAMPIONS

We have been so busy that we have not had a chance to visit about POC.
This is the 22nd year of a marching band festival at JMU.  This has
become one of the premiere shows on the east coast and to many it is
their World, Series, Super Bowl, and capstone experience for the
marching season.  There are bands coming from Virginia, North Carolina,
Maryland, New York, and Michigan.  It always is a wonderful event.  Why
do we host this?  RECRUITING!!!!!!  We want these outstanding students
to see the Marching Royal Dukes, visit JMU, and the most important thing
in my mind to meet YOU!  You are our best recruiters and ambassadors.
These students will look up to you like you are rock stars.  Freshmen,
wait until you hear the crowd when we enter the stadium!  There is
something that I want to remind all of us.  When you are looked upon in
that light, you must be careful with what you say.  Some of you will be
with your former high school band.  You are no longer in that band you
are a MRD!  Some people become very emotional at these events.  They
scream and holler and say things that they do not mean, but in the heat
of battle, their emotions overcome their logic.  We have to remain
MRD's!  In the perfect world, I would want every band to score an A+.  I
don't believe there are ever losers at these shows.  No score can change
what those wonderful young people have done that day on the field.  They
are all champions!  Winning and losing is how we interpret the score!
We want all these bands to have a positive experience.  If you are
working that day remember band directors sometimes become a little
stressed.  Remain calm.  Follow the rules to the letter of the law and
"kill them with kindness!"  Someone is upset, there is really nothing
that you can do.  They are upset.  Don't let that bother your day and
don't lower yourself into a verbal exchange.  Always think win/win.  Be
careful and not to ever comment on one band being better than another.
One year, one of the MRD's who was an older and well thought of student
told his band that they were the best at POC.  The band did not do so
well that evening.  The next week I got a call from a parent from that
school who was a good friend of mine.  He said why is it that the MRD's
voted our band the best in the contest and judges didn't.  Well, of
course, that is one of those rumors gone awry, but it happens.  OK,
sorry I didn't talk about school work this morning, so how about a
little poem?

IF YOU THINK......YOU CAN

If you think you're beaten you are.
    If you think you dare not, you don't
If you'd like to win but think you can't,
    It's almost a sure you won't.

If you think you're losing, you've lost.
    For out in the world we find--
Success begins with a person's will.
    It's all in the state of mind.

If you think your outclassed, you are.
    You've got to think high to rise.
You have to stay with it,
    In order to win the prize.

Life's battles don't always go
    To the one with the better plan.
For more often than not, you will win
    If only you think you can.

Have a great day and see you at band. PR

October 13th 2000

DAY OFF

You have a day off.  That's great!  So what are you going to do?  I
would relax for part of the day.  Enjoy something you haven't been able
to do.  But don't waste a whole day!  Plan some productive time.  When I
was in school, I would use these days to get some practice in on my
clarinet or sax.  I would set up a time to meet up with my buddies later
and then I would go the practice room and get caught up or ahead.  You
could schedule your procrastination hour in so that you spend that one
hour on all the things you need to catch up on your school work.  Don't
waste a day, but make the day fun and profitable.  I have learned a new
trick that really works.  I have to read so many journals and magazines
to stay current in music, conducting, bands, etc.  I have stacks of
journals that need to be read.  I have started taking the magazines and
going through and tearing our articles that I find pertinent or
something that I should probably become better familiar with.  I put
these articles in folders and carry them with me so when I have some
down time I can read and keep up.  Using little amounts of time that are
given you are great equalizers.  So have a great day and use down time
to keep up.  See you at band.  PR

October 16th 2000

THANKS

I want to thank all of you for a fantastic job on Saturday.  First, let
me thank all of you who worked to make this another wonderful POC!  You
were great in your handling of all the details and taking care of the
bands.  I received so many compliments from directors on how great our
workers were.  Everything went very smoothly.  Thanks to KKY and TBS as
they did their normal exemplary job of taking care of business.  Thanks
to all the work study for all the extra things you did.  Thanks to our
wonderful staff for being so professional.  Thanks to all of you for
three wonderful performances.  I thought the band was exceptional on
Saturday.  What is the neat thing for me is to talk to the judges about
the MRD's after the show.  These are some of the top judges in the
country who judge WGI, DCI, and BOA shows all year.  They see the best
of the best.  The comments on Saturday night were something that made my
chest stick out.  All the judges thought we sounded better than ever.
However, the one thing that came out from everyone who had seen us
before was that our visual package was better than they had ever seen.
The thing that kept on coming out from all the judges was how great our
guard looked!  Of course, they all thought the Dukettes were as fine of
dance group as they had seen and the drum line, several said was our
best ever.  (I am not blowing smoke, just quoting.)  I personally
thought we played, marched, danced, and did guard work to a degree that
I am very proud to be a part of such a wonderful organization.  I also
want to compliment Tonya as I thought she gave a clinic on how to twirl
on Saturday night!  And the soloist, as always the best!  I also want to
say that this may be the best group of drum majors we have ever had!
You think I am proud, you are right.  The band's great sound is also a
reflection of the great section leaders we have.  And we couldn't be a
great playing and marching band without all of you who do those extra
things to make us "Virginia's Finest!"  I am proud to be with 430 of the
finest students I have ever met.  Speaking of students, how's the school
work?  Keep focused as it will start getting to be easier over the next
few weeks.  The real key now is to put on the afterburners and catch
that second wind for the finish of the semester.  OK, MRD's, have a
great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

October 17th 2000

GET YOUR LIFE IN ORDER

One of the best books I read on getting organized was entitled "Organize
Yourself" by Ronni Eisenberg.   Before I read it my thoughts were: Sure,
I'd love to get organized. First thing tomorrow.  It's ironic: The
people, like me,  who really need to put some order into their lives
usually have the hardest time getting organized.  For the longest time
in my life I felt that I was the creative kind and that structure would
cramp my style.  Boy, was I wrong!  I have learned that getting
organized can help me be more creative.  I used to feel that I would do
things better under pressure.  After reading this book, I change a great
deal of my thinking.  Eisenberg says that getting organized is easier
than you expect.  "It gives you much more freedom.  You know where
things are, you can concentrate without having to look for things.  You
can just enjoy your work."   Eisenberg suggests 10 ways to get your life
under control.  I will give you the first three this morning.  1. Set
priorities.  Accept the fact that you can't do everything.  Decide which
activities and projects are really important you and say no to the rest.
(That means school work is what is important and the other can wait!)
2. Don't procrastinate.  If you habitually put things off, try to
understand why and work toward a cure.  If a project intimidates you,
break it into parts that you feel you can manage.  (Use the 1 hour
concept.)  If you're afraid your efforts won't be "perfect" - a common
fear of procrastinators - just resolve to do your best, but do it now.
Remember you can always make improvements later. 3.  Take charge of
interruptions.  establish blocks of time when you enforce a "no calls/no
visitors" policy, and let people know this time is off limits except in
emergencies. (Other words, go to the Carrier library and hide for an
hour or to a practice room and hide for two!)  OK, MRD's, let's go out
and have a great day.  One more little thought for today:  MAKE SOMEONE
HAPPY!  Make others feel great by offering words of encouragement and
friendship.  We all need to know that we are special and it can begin
with you.  Make someone feel better today.  Have a great day and I'll
see you at band. PR

October 18th, 2000

PUT YOUR LIFE IN ORDER 2

Yesterday, I talked to you about a great little book that did a lot to
get me organized.  Ronnie Eisenberg's "Organize Yourself" really helped
me get focused on all the tasks that I have to do.  #4 is my worst
fault.  Keep your workplace neat.  Know where things are, so you won't
have to spend time looking for them.  Things that you use should be
close and easy to reach.  I have so much paper that comes into my office
that it is hard for me to keep the clutter out.  Also, I have so many
interruptions that I don't get to complete things so I lay them to one
side of my desk.  (I know I should close my office door, but I feel that
it should always be open for students to see me.)  However, the more I
keep things in a place the better I can function.  You should have two
work scenarios.  One in your room and the other is your portable work
materials.  Of course with computers, you can take your materials on
disk and work anywhere you want.  Organize both work spaces so that you
know where everything is at any given time.  Organize your backpack or
whatever you use to carry things so that you are not reaching and
grabbing all the time for missing materials.  Keep your workspace neat
and that includes your desktop and hardrive.  Make sure you label and
name everything.  Also remember to always back up your materials in case
that the computer crashes.

Number 5 is to create one calendar that goes with you everywhere.  When
you are given an assignment or a date for a project, write down all the
details into your calendar.  Get a calendar that works best for you.  I
have two calendars that I carry with me.  One is the weekly and daily
calendar and the other is a year calendar.  I also have my trusted
yellow legal pad to make notes and to write in more details of my work.
Make the calendar a personal thing and look at it every morning and
every evening to remind you of what your tasks are for the next day.

Number 6 is also one that I have trouble with and that is to handle mail
and paperwork as it comes in.  the mail part is not that tough on you,
but the paperwork is.  Make sure you file all returned papers in the
proper folder.  Keep all pertinent materials needed for your classes in
an organized fashion and do it as you receive the material.  Paper can
be our friend or our enemy.

Number 7 is to use files to help you organize all parts of your life.
Have a file for the bills you have due.  Organize them by date due so
that you can take care of all your business promptly.  You may want to
have a file or notebook for each class so that you can organize easily.
Check each file daily to remind you of what is happening in each of your
classes and assignments.
(The great procrastination trick is to ignore something thinking that it
will go away.  Trust me it never goes away, it only gets bigger.)

OK, MRD's, I hope you have a wonderful day and that these thoughts may
help encourage you to stay focused on school.  I am so proud of your
accomplishments with the MRD's, now go out there and make your school
work "Virginia's Finest!"  Have a great day and I'll see you at band.
PR

October 19th, 2000

ANOTHER THANKS:
I want to thank the sisters of Tau Beta Sigma and the brothers of Phi
Buda Ruda for raising $200 at the Parade of Champions for VH1 Save the
Music.  Your hard work and philanthropic interests are greatly
appreciated and admired.  Thanks!

LIFE IN ORDER 3

To continue with Ronni Eisenberg's suggestions from "Organize Yourself,"
Number 8 is prepare in advance to go to class or work.  Don't rush out
the door.  Set things out beforehand: notes, files, clothes, keys, etc.
Check the weather to see if you need a coat or umbrella.  Plan for every
possible event for that day.  When I was 19, I went on the road with a
professional band.  I thought that was what I was going to do for the
rest of my life.  It was a great experience and it made me grow up real
quickly.  We would travel all day and play each night late and then
leave the next day for the next gig.  Of course, I was the typical young
male used to my Mother having to take care of all my things.  Well,
guess what, on the road with 20 guys, there are no Mothers!  After a few
disasters, I would take all my things needed for the next morning and
lay them in front of my door, so I would either pick them up or trip
over them.  Always prepare for the next day and get to class early to
focus.  Number 9 use waiting time to catch up on your reading.    I have
a folder with articles that I have cut out to read while I am waiting to
do the next thing.  If your text books are inconvenient to carry
everywhere, xerox the reading assignments and carry them with you so
that you can get that extra time of reading while waiting.  A good idea
would be to go to the class early or to a study lounge and read your
next assignments before class begins.  Try for one week of getting to
your classes early and see what happens!  Number 10 you will love.
Schedule some leisure time for yourself.  Yes, schedule your leisure
time, don't have leisure time schedule you.  Plan to work hard all day
and then take an hour to do something that you want to do.  By the way,
that is not skipping class for leisure, but free time. (I just read
about a study that correlates high academic achievement to high class
attendance.  It took a study to figure that one out?)  Ok, I hope these
ideas will help you.  If you wonder why I am such an expert on this
subject, it is because I was the most unorganized person until I went to
graduate school. So you all can learn from my mistakes.  MRD's, I hope
you have a wonderful day.  We have had fantastic weather and it is
supposed to continue through the weekend.  So go to class, read your
assignments, work on your projects, study for those exams, and have a
great day.  I'll see you at band.  PR

October 20th 2000

LIKE PARADE OF CHAMPIONS

Do you remember last Saturday?  Parade of Champions.  What great
performances!  The MRD's are always a step better at one of these
shows.  Why?  Because there are several thousand screaming students who
would love to be doing what your doing.  They are sophisticated and they
understand all the nuances of our shows. Why do we perform better under
these conditions. Well, Dr. Rooney, don't be so silly, they are loving
it and yelling, and howling, and all that other stuff!  Does screaming
make us better?  Of course it does, but can we not perform at that level
every time we perform?  Are we doing this for someone to scream or are
we doing this because we have so much pride in what we are doing that we
are always performing at that level?  Can we not be that good all the
time?  The great ones perform at that level no matter what the crowd.
Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Cal Rypken, Derrick Jeter, Luciano
Pavorotti, Kathleen Battle, James Galway, Wynton Marsellis, and other
great performers always perform at peak level.  Do we have a peak level
and a none peak level.  Does the screaming make the difference or can we
replicate that feeling in our mind and recreate that great performance
every time.  There has been so much written on performance and sports
psychology about this exact thing.  In all the Inner Games books or the
Sports Psychology books, they all talk about practicing your game with a
performance level in mind.  Other words you replicate Parade of
Champions in your mind every time you practice and then when you perform
you go to peak level because you are training your psyche to go to
another level.  You can do this with your school work also.  You can
study and practice your materials envisioning how the exams are going to
be look, or how you are going to give that speech or play that solo.
You can envision that you are doing that superior work every time and
eventually it becomes second nature.  The old adage that you practice
something long enough, it becomes a habit is true. If you think you are
a good student, you will become one.  Don't listen to negatives and
never, never say you can't do something.  I can give you so many
examples of individuals who were not as talented or smart as others and
they became accomplished and very successful at what they practiced.
OK, let's have a performance on Saturday like last Saturday, and let's
go out and envision all those good grades you are going to make.  Have a
great day and see you at band.  PR

October 23rd, 2000

EXTRINSIC AND INTRINSIC

This Saturday and last week were a classic example of intrinsic versus
extrinsic motivation.  Last Saturday you were pumped up performing
before all those fine high school students who looked at you like rock
stars.  That was a great performance.  On Saturday you also performed at
a level of excellence.  Why?  Because you have PRIDE!  It was intrinsic
motivation.  You wanted to do something because you are proud of the
MRDís, you are proud of JMU, and you are proud of yourself!  No, that
doesnít make you egotistical, you are just proud.  You want to do
something to the best of your abilities.  That is what true winners are
all about.  They are always in the hunt for excellence.  I think in our
society we dwell too much on the concept of perfection.  There is
nothing that can be perfect.  If you think that way you will always be
frustrated and end up with ulcers or worse.  The better idea is always
striving for excellence!  You are always in the hunt.  You are hungry to
do the best you can at everything you do.  Saturday was a perfect
example of your striving for excellence.  Can you envision last
Saturdayís and this Saturdayís feelings as you were performing?  What
you did Saturday takes a huge amount of pride and character and you
showed both.  Can we apply this to our schoolwork?  Are you going to
school just to make a good grade?  Are you going to school to just get a
degree?  Why not change to the idea of going to class to learn material
that will help you to have a wonderful life.  Remember our namesake,
James Madison said, "Knowledge is Freedom."  This is that time we
prepare ourselves for the future.  But the future is now!  You can learn
to always strive for excellence.  You are always in the hunt to do the
best that you possibly can.  Never use the excuse, well that is all I
can do or that is the best I can do, or I canít do that as well as
somebody else.  You are in the hunt for excellence!  You have seen what
you can do with intrinsic motivation, so letís apply this to our
schoolwork and do the same in the classroom.  Say to yourself several
times a day "I am in the hunt for excellence!"  Say it over and over and
it will be yours!  OK, MRDís, thanks for a great Saturday and now letís
go out there and search for excellence. Enjoy today off and Iíll see you
tomorrow.  PR

October 24th, 2000

THE MOTHER OF ALL EXCUSES, "I WORK BEST UNDER PRESSURE!"

How many times have you heard that or said that?  We all think that we
can do our best work under the gun.  Well true and false?  When the
deadline approaches, we are then motivated by fear, worry, concern, and
pressure.  Is that what makes us work better?  It just means that we see
the end close by and know it has to be finished.  Try this, think that
the end is today!  Think that final exams begin tomorrow, and that paper
is due tonight.  Now how do you feel?  Do you feel better that you are
under pressure?  I have talked so many times about the Stephen Covey
principle of time management.  In his theory you should work at things
that are important, but not urgent everyday.  Other words put things
into what he calls Quadrant II.  This is where things are to be
accomplished that are important, but there is no pressure to do it.  If
you work at your studies everyday, practice everyday, work on those
projects every day, then you are living in Quadrant II.  Once the
deadline approaches those things become Quadrant I or things that are
important, but now urgent.  During finalsí week, exams become urgent,
right now they are just important.  This is the time to work on finalsí
week.  Work when there is no pressure and you will find your life is
much more under control.  I will talk about blocking time soon, which is
also a great concept of time management.  OK, MRDís, have a great day
and see you at band.  PR

October 25th, 2000

SUCCESS IS NOT A SOMETIME THING, IT IS AN ALL THE TIME THING!

This summer I read the biography of Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach
of the Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins.  He was probably the
most well known personality in our country during the 60's.  He took a
rag tag Green Bay team and won 5 championships in 9 years.  He won the
first two Super Bowls,  retired and then came back a year later and took
over the Redskins who had had many losing years.  His first year the
team almost made the playoffs, but unfortunately this was Lombardi last
year of coaching as he died the next summer.  Lombardi was the most
sought after speaker in America.  All the major corporations would bring
him in to give inspirational messages just as he did with his teams.
There are a lot of Lombardism, but one of my favorite is "success is not
a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing!"  "It is not a matter so
much of talent or opportunity, but rather concentration and
perseverance."  Lombardi believed in a total commitment and focus on one
thing.  His teams were known for playing every play 100%.  He taught his
players that talent alone cannot win, but working hard to gain that end
result created winners.  This is such a great lesson in life.  It
doesn't matter how much talent one has, but their desire to do the best
at any task.  Excellence becomes a habit!  Working hard everyday becomes
a natural thing.  Focus on the task at hand gives us a direction.
Remember if we don't have a plan, it doesn't matter which road we take.
OK, MRD's, go out there and have a great day and practice success one
day at a time.  See you at band.  PR

October 26th, 2000

WHEN YOU FAIL, "WHAT OTHER WAY IS THERE TO DO IT?"

We all have setbacks in life.  I wish I could tell you that life is
nothing but one success after another.  All the positive things I tell
you each day should mean that I have had no setbacks whatsoever!  No
way!  Life is a challenge every day.  It is not the setbacks that make
our lives, it is the new direction we take after something happens.  You
do poorly on a test.  You are not a failure or bad person, you just did
poorly on the test.  What other way is there for me to prepare for the
next test?  I turn in a project and it is not acceptable.  What other
way is there?  I am rejected in a social situation.  It probably was not
what I wanted in the first place.  I get a speeding ticket.  I pay the
fine, I go to court and I slow down driving.  When I was just out of
school I taught  at a junior high school in Texas.  This was in the
metropolitan Dallas area which has tremendous band programs and they are
very competitive.  My first year I took my band to the Texas State
Festival and received a second division in concert and a first division
in sight reading.  I was devastated as this was the only second division
I ever made in my entire teaching career.  I thought my life was over.
I should have gone into banking like my Mother told me.  I had some
wonderful supporters including my wife, my principal, and my
supervisor.  They all said to me that if we received a first division in
sight reading then I must be doing a good job of teaching and I was also
reminded by my supervisor that this school had never made higher than a
third division before.  I still took it as a defeat, but I learned then
to find another way to do it.  I worked even harder the next year and
prepared my students better and we received all first divisions.
Defeats are those little signs to take a different approach and still
reach our same goals.  Never allow a slight setback to effect your long
range goals.  OK, MRD's, last rehearsal this week and then you have the
weekend to catch up on all your studies and prepare for the end of the
semester.  Have a great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

October 27th, 2000

RECREATION ? RECREATE YOURSELF!

The word recreation comes from the Latin recreare, which means to create
again.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines recreation as
"refreshing of oneís mind or body after labor through diverting
activity; play."  Also in the same dictionary, the second definition of
recreate is to "impart fresh life to; refresh mentally or physically."
What does all this mean?  We have a weekend off!!!!!  HOORAY!!!  It is
always great to have a weekend to schedule time for yourself without
other obligations.  I hope that you will recreate yourself this weekend
and come back refreshed after a great weekend.  However, plan to
recreate yourself with a good use of time.  OK, here is a good
schedule.  Saturday, sleep in!  Havenít done that in a while?  Plan to
meet friends for brunch or lunch and enjoy the morning to do nothing.
Then plan on that one hour (or more) to get your work up to speed.  What
needs the most attention?  That paper?  That test?  Practicing for your
next lesson?  Schedule in time for what needs to get done on Saturday
afternoon.  Maybe two hours of studying or practicing would really put
you on target.  Then, enjoy the evening. Go out with friends.  Go to a
movie.  Hang out.  Sunday, get up a little earlier.  Maybe you could go
to a worship service of your choice and meet some other neat people.
But get the day going a little earlier.  Plan to meet some friends for
lunch and then do that other hour or two of study.  Sunday night is a
school night!  Lots of groups have their meetings on Sunday evenings.
Have dinner with friends and work out a group study session or get that
other extra hour of practice done.  Use the weekend to recreate yourself
and to have recreation at the same time.  You know the all work and no
play saying? I donít think the above schedule would make Johnny that
dull!  OK, MRDís have a great weekend and Iíll see you on Monday.  PR

October 30th, 2000

CHECK UP

OK, let's check our calendars this morning.  Today is October 30.  That
means there are three weeks left before Thanksgiving week,  two days
during that week of school, then two weeks of class before exam week.
That means there are 27 more days of classes.  How are we doing?  The
end is in sight!  (Can you believe the Greece trip is 8 weeks from
tomorrow?)  Now is the time to make yourself a time line of the semester
so that you can focus on the end.  Other words prepare now for finals!
Don't think that there are 5 weeks before exams, think they are next
week!  Get ready for the end.  Don't procrastinate, don't say that you
work better under pressure (Remember, The Mother of All Excuses!), don't
say I'll get around to it.  The worst excuse is also "Someday I'll. Do
it  now!  Get your notes in order, read your text, start or finish that
project, step up the number of hours you spend in the practice room and
the library.  Start study sessions with friends.  Do everything to get
ready now.  What will get you is that Thanksgiving is a mixed blessing.
It is a great time off from school, but it comes with two weeks of
school left. Don't go the entire holiday time without doing some work!
Get prepared to have a great finish to the semester.  Remember, this is
Parents Weekend.  Lots of excitement and fun.  OK, MRD's, have a great
day and I'll see you at band.  PR

October 31st, 2000

PERSEVERANCE

I have always loved that word.  The American Heritage Dictionary defines
it as "the holding to a course of action, belief, or purpose without
giving way; steadfastness."  One of the most famous quotes about
perseverance is by Samuel Johnson.  He said, "Great works are performed,
not by strength, but perseverance."  Actually the root of the word is
persevere which comes from the Latin perseverare, which has a derivation
of the same word as serious.  And all these words come from the same
concept of holding firm onto a direction.  Keeping your sights on a
purpose.  Everyday we have to stay focused on the task at hand.  The
more focused we stay the easier it will be to find the right road.  One
of my favorites is "When you fail, what other way is there to do it?"
H. Ross Perot said, "Most people give up just when they're about to
achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the
last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown."  You
probably have your own little statements that keep you going.  We all
have to "keep our noses to the grind stone" to be successful at any
endeavor.  OK, Dr. Rooney, lighten up its Halloween.  I know and I hope
you have a great Eve of All Saints Day.  Enjoy your day, stay focused on
your work and I'll see you at band.  Have a great day.  PR

November 1st, 2000

QUIZ

All my messages to you I write (I do borrow a lot of material) each
morning when I first get to the office.  Yesterday, I received this from
a listserve that I am on which is word derivations.  I thought this one
is very appropriate to pass on to you.

Here's the story behind a common noun that can send shivers up a
student's spine: QUIZ. It can mean a short, fast, "minor" test - or it
can mean a practical joke. In fact, it started - the word began - as a
joke. Or, to be more accurate, as a way to win a bet.  It seems a pub
owner in Dublin wagered that he could cause the whole town to include a
certain word in its conversations, with no more than one day's notice.
His friends, of course, didn't believe him, and were happy to make the
bet.  But he fooled them! That evening, he hired a lot of children to
race around, chalking up the word "QUIZ" on billboards and walls all
over the city.  By the next morning, his aim was accomplished. When
people saw that new word - and a four-letter word, at that - they
immediately supposed that it must be naughty, at the very least. And
everyone wanted to know what it meant. So that's how a word that derives
from no previous word came into being. Now, it can mean fooling someone,
or someone who allows himself to be fooled, or a test in which one hopes
one does not prove oneself to be a fool!

I did not know this about the origin of the of this word, but it is so
appropriate.  I always hated quizzes, but I learned if I did not prepare
for them that I would be the one that would suffer.  Always prepare for
your test as if it was the most important thing you do.  (IT IS!)  OK,
MRD's have a great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

November 2nd, 2000

TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE

I mentioned briefly reading Mitch Albon's wonderful little book
"Tuesdays with Morrie."  This is one of those books that has so many
layers of meaning.  It is the true story of the last years of Mitch's
Sociology Professor from Brandeis University.  Morrie Schwartz was
Mitch's favorite professor in college.  He thought he had learned so
much from him in the several courses that he had taken.  Now 15 years
later when Mitch is a top sports writer for the Detroit Free Press and a
regular on the Sport's Reporters Show on ESPN, Mitch meets again with
Morrie through some unusual circumstances.  The layer that is what I
want to talk to you about is the old adage, "When the student is ready,
the teacher will appear."  Talk to anyone who has gone on from an
educational setting and they will tell you that, "Only if I had
done........in school."  I wish so often that I had paid better
attention in class as I am doing in life exactly what I went to college
to do.  I did not know I was going to end up a Director of Bands in a
college, but I knew I wanted to go into music.  If only I had.........I
have so many students who graduate and then call, email, write, or stop
by to tell me that they wished they had paid better attention in one of
my classes.  This is human nature.  Ladies and Gentlemen, do better than
I did, pay attention now!  The teachers are here, they are only missing
the students!  You have wonderful teachers at JMU.  I am amazed just in
the music department at the kind of faculty we have.  We have scholars,
writers, performers, and great teachers.  We have people who have played
with major orchestras, rock stars, and recording artist.  I learn as
much as anyone just talking to my colleagues.  I know that this is the
case in all your departments.  You have great teachers, you have a great
opportunity, so DO IT NOW.  There are a lot of Morrie's teaching classes
at JMU.  You have them everyday, so do as I say and not what I did, PAY
ATTENTION!!!  OK, MRD's, have a great day and I'll see you at band.  PR

November 3rd, 2000

THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE

So many of you know of this little poem that I love so much.  At this
time of the year, I get a little sentimental over the members of the
MRD's who will leave us this year. What makes my job so neat is seeing
students grow and change in four years (or more).  They come in as young
people barely out of high school and they leave as adults for the real
world.  What is even more rewarding is the fact that I see young people
from the time they are in high school or even middle school into their
adult lives and many remain close to us after graduation.  I get
numerous emails during the year from Alum's with great stories of their
times with the MRD's.  To see the seniors leave is a mixed blessing for
me.  They have given the program so much and they have been so much fun
to work with, but they are just like my two sons, the time comes when
they too must leave.

Saturday is the last regular season game and the last home performance
for the MRD's (unless playoffs come along).  At post game we will
recognize all of you who are graduating.  It is a very small gesture,
but it is more a moment for you in the sun.  It is a time for you to
look around and remember the good times, remember the fun times, and
remember the friends.  You will remember these times the rest of your
life.  I still remember performances and friends from my college years.
They are fond memories, but then we all must move on to our lives.  So
when your name is called tomorrow, think of all those wonderful times
you have had at JMU.  To you graduating seniors, thank you so much for
coming into our program and our lives.  I have so many fond memories of
these past four years.  What an incredible run that we have had in the
past few years.  Great performances, POC, Inaugural, Monaco, and for
some Greece.  You leave us  a better program than we had before you
came.  But I assure you, it will continue as you return as an Alum.
Next year is a very special year for the MRD's.  It will be the 30th
anniversary of the Marching Royal Dukes and also my 20th year as the
Director.  The Alum Band Advisory Committee is planning a celebration
for next homecoming and we are going to celebrate all next fall with a
variety of events.  I hope that all of you that are leaving us will mark
the date to return to JMU for this special occasion.

As tomorrow is our last regular season game, let's end the year with our
finest performance.  This year's band has been very special and I want
us to go out like we came in, "Virginia Finest's and America's
Favorite!"  Have a great day and see you at band.  PR

        Now here is the law of the jungle,
    And it's as true and blue as the sky,
    And those who obey it shall prosper,
        But those who deny itshall die.
As the serpent who slithers the tree trunk,
    The law runneth forward and back:
 The strength of the pack is each wolf,
But the strength of each wolf is the pack!

November 6th, 2000

LISTENING 101

I wish that they had offered a course entitled Listening 101 when I was
in college.  It sure would have saved me a lot of time.  I just read a
great little book entitled, "Put Your Mouth Where Your Money Is!" by Dr.
Ann Wood.  It is on communication skills.  One of her chapters is on
listening.  She states that, " poor listening habits of Americans are
really costly to business, in terms of productivity and efficiency."
Poor listening habits are VERY COSTLY to students in college.  We learn
either by listening or reading.  If either of these skills are not good,
we cannot do our best work.  Listening takes work.  You have to learn to
focus on your lectures and not allow yourself to daydream.  Staying
focused is something that you have to practice.  I am always amazed at
students in my classes who don't listen to instructions and then do
poorly on a test or written assignment.  Most teachers are very clear in
their thought processes.  They have studied the material for years and
understand succinctly what they want to say.  Usually lectures have an
outline form.  I always try to write my notes in the manner in which I
think the lecturer is using his outline.  Usually lectures begin with a
large concept and then the professor moves to explain in detail so that
you can understand the material.  What is he or she talking about?  If
you get confused or lost, ask questions.  I find that the best way to
approach a professor is either after class or a better way is to set an
appointment during their office hours and go over what is confusing in
your notes.  I have found that if I keep good eye contact on the
professor, it helps me to stay focussed and alert.  Don't work on other
things during a lecture, this means you are doing two things poorly.
Listen for inflections in the teacher's voice.  All of us have favorite
subjects.  I tell my students that if a teacher says something with
emphasis, it will be on the test.  If they say something twice, it will
be a large portion of the test.  And if they say something more than two
times, it is the test!  If you follow the lectures carefully, you can
probably figure out where the professor is coming from and where the
materials that they are using are from.  I find this a little game that
I like to play and it keeps me even more focused.  I think of myself as
a private investigator and I want to find out where everything is coming
from in the lectures.  When I find something exactly quoted from a
source, I know that I have done my job in tracking down the suspect
material!  Listening becomes a fun game.  Listen to how professors talk
and their use of language.  We all have little quirks in our language.
I love analogies as I can understand myself better by trying to put
information into some sort of concept that I already understand.  I also
think can I give this lecture back to one of my classmates.  Try that
sometime.  Have a buddy of yours who is in the same class listen while
you repeat the lecture of the day.  If you will try the above ideas you
can graduate to Listening 501 which is a wonderful level to be.
Benjamin Disraeli said, "Nature has given us two ears but only one
mouth."  OK, MRD's go out and listen today.  Have a wonderful day and
I'll see you Thursday.  PR

November 7th, 2000

TIME AND SPACE

I talked about this once before, but several of you were very interested
in this concept so I will revisit it with some new ideas.  Julie
Morgenstern is one of the hottest authors and talk show guest today.
Julie was a working Mom who one day felt that she could not get rid of
the clutter in her house, office, and life.  She began to organize both
her space and time in the same manner.  Her concept is to organize your
life like an kindergarten classroom.  The reason a kindergarten
classroom operates so well is that it's divided into clearly defined
activity zones so that the children can focus on one activity at a
time.  There is a reading corner, an arts-and-crafts area, a music
corner, and a dress-up zone.  Items have clear homes, so there is only
one logical place to find anything or put it away.  Her first book,
"Organizing from the Inside Out," shows how you should organize your
workspace so that everything has a clear and definite place for its
home.  In the same manner, you should organized your time so that blocks
of time become a space where only a certain thing can go.  Have you ever
started to work on something and you switched from one thing to another
and never accomplished anything?  I use to do that all the time.  (I
still have a funny quirk that I will have 3 or 4 books that I am reading
at the same time.  Don't ask me why, I have always done it and it works
for me.)  Now I schedule blocks of times with specific projects so that
they have a definite space.  I take my priority list and I find a block
of time for each item in order of importance.  I fill in focused tasks
between classes so that I know that I wont get off my plan.  I schedule
a time for my paper work, email, score study, class preparation,
reading, and even fun time.  At the end of the day I reevaluate what I
have done and make a new plan for the next day.  It really keeps you on
task.  You never have free time unless you have planned for free time.
The only thing that interrupts me are certain phone calls to people I
want to talk to or with students which is why I am here.  Students are
not an interruption, they are a priority!  Try this plan and see if it
will help you.  OK, MRD's have a great day and I'll see you Thursday. PR

Novmber 8th, 2000

SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD

Did you follow the elections?  I love to watch the election night.  It
is democracy in action.  Our forefathers certainly built a great
government that still is working.  Thank you James Madison!   What I
always enjoy is watching all these candidates bash each other for months
and this morning on all the news shows all we hear is getting on with
our country's business.  Stephen Covey's 5th Habit of Highly Effective
People is "Seek first to understand, then to be understood."  The
premise is that we are trained all our life to read, write, and to
speak, but we are never trained to listen.  Communication between two
people is based on both sides hearing the other sides views.  I always
get tickled at election time watching the body language of candidates.
It shows that theirs is the only way.  That may work with politicians,
but for us mortals, it doesn't.  We have to understand where the other
person is coming from in order to understand better and for them to
understand us.  Listening is a skill of trying to hear what someone is
saying by not putting it into your words.  I have a challenge everyday
as I work with young people 18-23 years old.  I am 56 years old and I
graduated from college in 1966.  I see the world in quite different
eyes.  My concern is not listening to young people so that I can better
understand where they are coming from.  We have to become empathic
listeners.  Empathic comes from the word empathy which means
understanding not only the words but the feelings of another person.
You need to learn to listen not only with your ears, but with your eyes
and your heart.  You try to understand the true meaning of another
person.  It really works and it is another level of listening that you
will enjoy when you get there.  A good trick sometimes is to close your
ears and watch people's body language.  The old saying that you are
speaking so loudly that I can't hear you is really true.  Listening is
really a art form.  Talk about listening, how are you doing in class?
Are you an empathic listener in class?  Try this technique.  Listen with
your ears and eyes and try to get the essence of what the professor is
saying.  OK, MRD's, have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.  PR

November 9th, 2000

.

                                  FEAR

We all fear something.  We all fear failure.  We all have self doubts
about our abilities.

   * FEAR is spelled
   * False
   * Expectations
   * Appearing
   * Real

We all create fear from some false expectation either worrying about the
past or the future.  People who suffer depression usually have extreme
fears of something that is going to happen to them or something that
happened in their past (real or unreal).  We also have fears of our lack
of abilities or rejection.  We all have those dreams of not doing
something like attending a class, not having a paper, not being able to
open our locker, etc.  Musicians and other performers have stage
fright.  Some get it so bad that their hands will sweat and actually
their pulse rate and probably their blood pressure will go up.  We all
have fears.  The two ways we can help with our fears is to one always be
prepared.  When we are prepared we can deal with so much of the
anxiety.  We all know what it feels like when you go to take a test.
Sometimes we get so nervous that we cannot remember anything.  That is
extreme brain lock.  If we are very prepared, then we can relax and be
as logical about the situation as possible and try  to solve all the
question.  The second part is to remain focused and calm.  This works in
any crisis situation.  Remain focused on the problem and look for a
solution not to be a part of the problem.  The other part of this is
thinking that you are going to make a wrong decision and people will
think you are stupid.  Don't fear decisions.  Don't fear failure.  If
you are a performer, you are going to have many moments on the stage.
You don't fail, you just are learning how to do it better.  As a young
musician, I felt that I failed many times, but now looking back on it, I
was just learning my craft.  When I was working on my DMA in conducting,
I had to video tape everyone of my rehearsals and send them to my major
professor.  You know how you feel when you see yourself on tape.  It is
never what you think it is like.  I feared watching them everyday.
However, I learned that it was helping me and I was getting better and
the better I got, the more I worked and the more I worked the better
prepared I was, etc.  Don't fear failure.  Do it now.  Prepare and
focus.  Teddy Roosevelt said, "In any moment of decision, the very best
thing you can do, is what is right; the nest best thing you can do, is
what is wrong; the worst thing you can do is NOTHING!"  Tomorrow I will
give you a wonderful story by Nadine Stair who wrote an article "If I
Had My Life To Live Over Again," when she was 85 years old about this
same subject.  OK, MRD's, have a great day and I'll see you at band.
Sorry, yesterday's email was so late, I sent it at 9:00 AM and some of
you did not get it until last night.  See you at band.  PR

November 10th, 2000

FEAR II

Yesterday, I talked about the fear of failure.  We all have
those fears.  However, I think it is better to think the
glass is half full than half empty.  We want to have high
standards, we want to do the best we can, we want to lead a
happy and fullfilled life, but we don't need to be
motivated by fear.  We need to be motivated by the hunt for
success.  Remember, I told you that there is no such thing
as perfection only the hunt for it.  That is not a cop-out
and a excuse after something goes wrong.  It is thinking
differently.  When something doesn't go right, I think
let's try another plan.  I try another plan until I get it
right. The following is an article written by Nadine Stair
of Louisville, Kentucky.  She was eighty-five years old
when she wrote this:

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER AGAIN

"I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.  I'd relax.  I
would limber up.  I would be sillier than I have been this
trip.  I would take fewer things seriously.  I would take
more chances.  I would take more trips.  I would climb more
mountains and swim more rivers.  I would eat more ice cream
and less beans.  I would perhaps have more actual troubes, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and
sanely hour after hour, day after day.  Oh, I've had my
moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of
them.  If fact, I'd try to have nothing else.  Just
moments.  One after another, instead of living so many
years ahead of each day.  I've been one of those people who
never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water
bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute.  If I had it to do
again, I would travel lighter next time.

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. 
I would go to more dances.  I would ride more
merry-go-rounds.  I would pick more daisies."

The point of Mrs. Stair's story is that she lived life out
of fear of failure not the joy of living.  It is a hard
concept to get accustomed to, but it will work.  If we are
prepared and focused in life, then we have much less to
fear.  So Mrd's, study, practice, read, and then take 15
minutes on Sunday to find some daisies.  Have a great day
and I'll see you at band.  PR

November 13th, 2000

THANKS FOR THE GREAT YEAR!

This morning, I want to just thank everybody for a great year. This has
been a terrific band and the year has gone so fast.  When the band is
good, like this year, the season seems to fly by.  I want to thank all
of you for a wonderful year.  To those of you leaving us, THANKS.  You
gave us tremendous efforts in helping us maintain our reputation.  You
saw Saturday what people think of us.  We are not only a great band, but
one whose reputation is of cult statue.  That is because of all of the
great people who have been a part of this program.  I am very blessed in
having such a wonderful staff.  Brantley, Bill, Connie, Rick, Duane,
Lisa, and Mrs. Rooney make running this band a joy.  To all the Drum
Majors, Section Leaders, Work Study, Librarians, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau
Beta Sigma thanks for making this all work.  To each of you thanks for
being a part of something that is truly great.  In a sense it is the
end, but it never ends.  Those of you that are leaving us will always
have the fond memories.  Those of you returning know that I pledge to
make next year's band "the best ever, every year!"  We already have some
neat plans that you will be excited to hear and we hope to announce some
of this before the end of the semester.  SO TO ALL THANKS!!!!!!  Now
that you have so much free time, I know where to find you:  CARRIER
LIBRARY!!!  Have a great day.  PR

November 14th, 2000

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH!

Have you ever heard the saying, When the going gets tough, the tough get
going?"  I donít know where I first heard it, but it has been in our
family for a long time.  Champions always step it up a notch when it
comes to crunch time.  Look at a champion like Tiger Woods.  No matter
what, he comes up with that incredible shot right when he needs it the
most.  Now is the crunch time of the semester.  It is time to step it up
a notch.  It is time to "DOIT NOW!"  Letís get going to get ready for
the end of the semester now.  Remember, the mother of all excuses, "I
work best under pressure?"  NO YOU DONíT!  You work best when you are in
control.  You got some extra time now.  Use the time from 5-6:30 PM to
do school work.  You are used to doing something at that time so
continue.  Do that thing you have been putting off the most this
afternoon.  Start at 5:00 and donít stop until 6:30 PM and see how much
you can accomplish.  Now is the time to get tough!  OK, MRDíS, have a
great day and get tough!  PR

See the 2nd page of Dr. Rooney Emails!

I'll keep adding them as I get them!

GO MRD'S!!

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