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We cannot talk about developing a learning community committed to creating learning environments where modern learners discover, connect, contribute and adapt to the changing world if we鈥檙e not doing so first.

What I didn鈥檛 count on soon after was a request to meet with one of our newest music teachers, Jamie Briggs. She asked me to join her 4th-grade introductory band 鈥� not for one session but for the long term. Her reasoning was simple: Come and learn what it is that music teachers do, first hand. I heard her saying, 鈥淚 so believe in the importance of music in our schools that I want to share it with you.鈥�

Pushing My Limits

My reason for agreeing was also simple. If I鈥檓 going to walk the talk, push boundaries and ask our teachers to move beyond what we鈥檝e always done, then I鈥檇 better do the same. I鈥檓 curious and a constant questioner. I鈥檓 not afraid to tackle hard subjects, hold difficult conversations or accept a new challenge. But this?

I can assure you there is likely no learning experience that would push me, extend my own boundaries and expose my limitations, insecurities and feelings of ineptitude as joining a band and performing publicly. (I鈥檓 in a full body sweat just writing about it here.)

I never studied a musical instrument. As a young student, my parents said 鈥渘o鈥� to taking up an instrument. I don鈥檛 know if it was a financial decision. I just accepted their response. I also don鈥檛 remember any basic music or chorus classes in school other than a teacher in the 7th grade who sat at his desk while we sang songs from a textbook. He was less than enthusiastic and certainly didn鈥檛 teach me a thing. I spent the rest of my life seeing those people as musical and myself as not.

A Hard Life Lesson

My learning journey began last September and continued through December. I attended the 4th-grade band rehearsal every Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. and did my best to attend my group clarinet lesson with five other students every Thursday.

So what did I learn as a member of the 4th-grade band?

First, it turns out I鈥檓 not tone deaf. I wasn鈥檛 inept musically. I just needed to take the time to study and learn this thing I thought was unreachable all of my life. I had a fixed mindset that 鈥淚鈥檓 not musically inclined.鈥�

Second, I discovered we usually stay in our own lanes. Though I鈥檓 unafraid to accept a new challenge, now I can see that was the case only when the challenge was close enough to my usual areas of strength.

Third, our 4th-grade students care deeply about learning, doing well and pleasing their families. They also want each other to do well 鈥� there was constant positive encouragement within our little lesson group.

Fourth, my band mates were fearless when learning something new and incredibly nervous when performing. I wanted to say, 鈥淗ey! It鈥檚 OK. No 4th-grade beginner band ever has sounded perfect and your parents love you no matter how we sound.鈥�

Fifth, I learned a hard life lesson, belatedly, from our school board president, Allison Duwe, who told me: 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to be perfect, Kim. You can even make a mistake up there and it鈥檒l be OK!鈥� How many times have I stopped when I wasn鈥檛 good at something new right away?

Finally, when asking our school community to change, I will remember that change for them may be as hard as learning to play the clarinet was for me.