Focus In the Community
vs. distraction
Concentrating my effort on the work at hand
To practice Focus, I will: 
- pay attention to details
- follow instructions
- do a job right
- finish my projects
- avoid procrastination
Band Teaches Focus
My kids were in marching band from middle school through college and learned much more than music scores or drill charts. Band taught them Focus. Long and frequent practices spent learning music and drills taught them that Focus will reward them with mastering skills, attaining goals, and accomplishing tasks.
When the band performs, it acts as a team, but it’s different than a sports team. Band teaches about improving your contribution to the team. You are competing against yourself to get better. Practicing your part alone, focusing on the same few measures until they are mastered, provides personal feedback you can use for improvement. Focus in any area requires both focus and feedback.
When Focus results in success, it builds confidence in your skills, and it builds confidence in Focus. Band students are proud of the accomplishment of the group and in knowing they contributed to something bigger than themselves. Keeping up with practice isn’t always fun but letting down other band members is even less fun. Their personal ownership and commitment to the band feeds Focus.
How can you use your Focus for success?
“That awkward moment when you realize the marching band works harder than the football team.”
Kathleen Alcock
“You know, if I can survive marching band, I can survive anything.”
Nellie McKay
“Band is not proud because it performs well; it performs well because it is proud.”
George Parks
Band Director Quotes:
“One more time.”
“Early is on time. On-time is late.”
The Links below will take you to Resources you can use with the family or within community organizations
to teach the Character Quality of Focus.
The following activities are related to dates this month and can relate to any character quality or good character in general.
August Character All Month
See NationalToday, AndTodayIs, NationalDayCalendar or DaysOfTheYear for more information on these and other holidays to celebrate this month. Holidays with Always-On Dates 1 National Promise to Care Day On #NationalPromiseToCareDay, Urgent care workers are reminded to...
First Day Of Autumn
Varies between September 21 and 24Make a Character Tree to identify character-based behavior on which you can focus. You can either draw or print a picture of a tree. Write suggestions of good behaviors on cutouts of leaves. If you write in a bold black marker, the...
Day of Encouragement
Always September 12Day of Encouragement was started in 2007 by a group of Searcy, Arkansas teenagers who felt that encouragement could help many teens face their problems. The Mayor of Searcy proclaimed September 12, Day of Encouragement. A similar proclamation was...
Our other Pillars have resources that can be used in a community or family setting.
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