Being the Kind of Musician People Want to Work With

Objective: To help students understand how their attitude, behavior, and social skills affect how others experience them as musicians and teammates—on stage, in class, and in future auditions.

🎯 Rationale for Director:
Middle school students are still learning how to balance skill-building with teamwork, personal confidence, and social awareness. As they grow as musicians, it's important that they also grow as kind, respectful, and engaging individuals. This lesson helps them see that being a great performer isn't just about how well they play—it's also about how well they connect with others.

📚 Assignment:
Title: Being the Kind of Musician People Want to Work With

Instructions:

1. Read the article “More Than Talent: How to Be the Student They Want to Teach” on Accoladi.com.
2. Think about a time when you played in a group—band, orchestra, choir, or ensemble. What made that group feel good to be in?
3. Now think about yourself. Would you want to be in a group with you? Why or why not? Be honest and kind to yourself.
4. Review the article’s section: “Six Simple Ways to Make Yourself More Likeable.”
5. Choose one trait you’d like to work on (e.g., smiling more, listening better, staying positive).
6. Write two short paragraphs (about 150 words total) that answer:
   • Why did you choose that trait?
   • What is one thing you’ll do this week to practice it—in rehearsal, class, or at home?

🎁 Bonus Challenge:
At the end of the week, write a short journal entry: Did anything change when you tried this? How did others respond?

Likeability: Your Secret Audition Strength

Objective: To help students understand how personal appearance, attitude, and interpersonal communication contribute to successful music school auditions and future college success.

🎯 Rationale for Director:
As students prepare for auditions, their focus is often solely on technical skill. This lesson is designed to help students understand the equally important value of professionalism, presence, and likeability. In the collegiate music world, professors are not only evaluating skill—they're deciding whether this is someone they want to mentor, travel with, and represent their program for years to come.

📚 Assignment:
Title: Likeability: Your Secret Audition Strength

Instructions:

1. Go to Accoladi.com and read the article titled “More Than Talent: How to Be the Student They Want to Teach.”
2. Scroll to the section titled “Build a Real Connection.” Review the five practical strategies for becoming more likeable.
3. Choose one of the five strategies you believe you need to work on most:
   • Eye Contact
   • Smiling
   • Asking Questions
   • Listening Actively
   • Using Names
4. In 300 words or less, respond to the following:
   • What specific area do you struggle with?
   • Why is this important in an audition or professional music setting?
   • How do you think improving this could change someone’s impression of you?
5. Create a 10-day plan to improve that skill. Include:
   • Daily goals or activities (e.g., practice eye contact, greet your teacher by name)
   • A way to measure your progress
   • A short reflection entry (2–3 sentences) at the end of each day

🎁 Bonus Challenge (Optional):
Ask a peer, teacher, or family member to observe your progress and provide written feedback on day 10. Submit this with your final reflection.

Middle School Musicians: Practicing Notes, Character, and Not Rolling Their Eyes at Judges

Dear _________________ Parents

Let’s be honest—middle school is a magical time when students are discovering who they are, what they love, and how loudly they can sigh when asked to put away their phone. (It’s a talent. I respect it. I also fear it.)

As their music director, I spend a lot of time helping them grow as musicians. We talk tone, tempo, and tuning. But lately, I’ve been thinking about something even more important: who they are becoming as people. Because the truth is, no matter how well they play their instrument, no one wants to sit next to someone in rehearsal who acts like they’re doing us a favor by showing up.

That’s why I’m inviting you to read a quick and meaningful article called “More Than Talent: How to Be the Student They Want to Teach,” now available at Accoladi.com. While it’s written for high schoolers preparing for college auditions, its message starts hitting home much earlier: talent gets you noticed—character gets you invited back.

The article reminds us that being kind, curious, and coachable is just as important as playing the right notes. It’s a message I’d love your child to hear from more than just me. And honestly, it’s a great read for parents too—because you’re the real MVPs helping them develop into young adults we all want in our band, choir, or orchestra and at the dinner table.

Encourage them to read it. Better yet—read it with them. Then maybe (just maybe) the next time they meet a guest conductor, an adjudicator, or the cafeteria manager, they’ll flash a smile and say thank you instead of mumbling into their hoodie.

Musical excellence is a journey. But so is learning how to be the kind of person others want to make music with.

And that starts now.

Musically Yours,

_________________________________________________
Director’s Name and Position

_____________________________________________
Name of School

More Than Talent: Helping Your Teen Be the Student Professors Actually Want to Teach 🎶

Dear ______________________ Parents

I know what you're thinking. “My child is ready for college auditions—they’ve practiced their solo, they know all twelve major scales, and they’ve even figured out what to wear that’s both artsy and audition-appropriate.” Fantastic! But now comes the tricky part:

Are they also… pleasant?

Now, before you clutch your pearls or write me an email, hear me out. I’m not asking if your child is likable to you (of course they are—you’ve raised them!). I’m asking if they’re likable to the people who hold the key to their college admission and scholarship future: the music professors.

See, college music auditions aren’t just about musical skill. As the article “More Than Talent: How to Be the Student They Want to Teach” on Accoladi.com explains, professors are evaluating whether they actually want to spend four years with this student. Will they show up prepared? Will they work well in a studio? Will they smile once in a while and not act like a walking eye roll in rehearsal?

These things matter.

That’s why I’m asking you—gently—to encourage your child to read the article on Accoladi.com. It’s not preachy. It’s smart, well-written, and frankly, it might save them from a very awkward audition moment that starts with “So tell us why you’d like to study here…” and ends with silence and a half-shrug.

In fact, this is one article that deserves fridge-door real estate. Because here’s the truth: Professors don’t just want musical talent. They want teammates. Colleagues. People who listen, smile, ask thoughtful questions, and don’t make everything about themselves.

Translation: Tell your teen that kindness, eye contact, and not interrupting go a long way.

Let’s send them off not just as talented musicians—but as students the faculty actually wants to teach.

(And if they come home from college four years from now and are still using these people skills? That’s the real standing ovation.)

Warmly,

_________________________________________________
Director’s Name and Position

_____________________________________________
Name of School