If It Ain't Broke...
I recently had dinner at a Fredrico’s in Logan, a pizza place close to where I grew up. Every time I eat there I order the same Items I have for the past 50 years—pizza with red sausage and pepperoni, garlic bread, and a green salad with thousand island dressing.
In 50 years Fredrico’s has experienced multiple ownership changes. They have remodeled the dining room and restrooms and tweaked the company logo. But in that same 50 years they have not changed the menu that made them famous to almost everyone who lives in Logan, Utah. I haven’t spoken with the owners, but I’m betting that if you asked them why they have kept the same menu for half a century they would simply say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
Too often in life we change things that should be left alone, but just as often we leave things alone that need to be changed. How do we know when change is necessary, or when to leave things alone? The microcosm of life we call marching band provides some answers.
I could easily argue the point that competitive marching band has experienced more change over the past 40 years than any other high school activity or sport. Once an activity focused on playing three contrasting songs with precision marching, it has now grown into a themed show complete with electronic effects, dance choreography, and amazing props—and that’s just the beginning! As the activity changed, we also changed our approach to several things. We stopped teaching the high mark time and started teaching jazz runs. We stopped calling marching commands in the marching basics block and replaced it with a series of marching and visual exercises. Instead of choosing music first, we chose the program theme first and then selected music to match. But just like Fredrico’s Pizza, there were many “tried and true” things that we never changed. Proven exercises to teach tone quality, balance, pitch, and articulation didn’t change. Most importantly, our culture and vision never changed.
So what lessons can we take from band as we navigate our ever changing world? Here are just a few:
Change the methods if necessary, but don’t change your identity or vision.
Remember that the latest thing is not always the greatest thing. If you are getting the desired result, don’t institute changes just because you feel the need.
If you aren’t getting the desired result, it’s time to make some changes. Einstein is credited with saying “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Cut the fat. Recognize when something is no longer useful, and stop doing it.
Keep the proven tools in your toolbox, but also keep your eyes open for any that make the job easier or more efficient.
Wholesale change may be necessary, but small, incremental adjustments are most effective.
Constant change is a recipe for failure. Stick with changes long enough to get an accurate sample of how they work before you discard them and move on. You may need to give it time.
Keep learning. The school of life is always in session.
