Music of Andrew F. Poor

An oft cited view on competition in the arts... An alternative view... Lastly, the populace view... Competition and the Arts Throughout my career, I have been faced with the decision on how to balance competition and my daily activities as a musician and an educator. When I was young, I was often told the following phrase, "Right now, someone is working harder than you and when you meet them in competition, they will be better than you." Another, popular motivational phrase, "Hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard."   Eugene Corporon always said to us, "Every day is audition day."  I firmly believe there may not be a more competitive industry than the music industry . Tens of thousands of individuals will compete for a place on popular shows, such as, American Idol. An equally high number of people will study and earn advanced degrees to be one of 400+ people auditioning for a single place in a professional ...

"Hard work is fun!"-Jim Luce WARNING : some may find this cheesy or simplistic--remember I teach middle school--and I am sure someone can write a more sophisticated version of this concept. Regardless, I believe that this is an important message to instill in my students, and one I feel compelled to share.  The  Universal Law of the Fun Cycle  goes like this:  learn something new  then you work hard at truly learning this skill,  you start to have fun, so you work harder, then  you have even more fun, and  the cycle repeats even faster. However, when you stop working, you stop having fun.  Have you ever found yourself starting something and then wanting to quit shortly thereafter?  from  moenormangolf.com Have you ever picked up a book, with a deep meaning, and you found yourself not finishing the book?  www.petersons.com Have you ever started a hobby, only to later stop? guitarlessons....

Daniel Pink TED Talk Daniel Pink, in his book Drive, notes that there are three keys to internal motivation: 1) autonomy, 2) mastery, and 3) purpose. I have read this book several times and this experience has been both enlightening and affirming for me as a musician and as a teacher. I have always said that micro-mangers kill initiative and can bring an entire school to a halt. This books clearly illuminates how this management style violates this key area #1-autonomy. In addition, I have found that numerous edicts and mandates from the state-level of management has an equally negative effect on the energy of teachers and students, alike. As we lead others, we need to find ways to embrace this principal of autonomy to spark motivation and the collective energy of a group. For me as a music teacher, I have developed a curriculum that allows the students the autonomy to proceed as fast and as far as they choose to each year. The underpinning of this principal is, TRUST . If we trust t...

Over the next month, there are several exciting events that will be happening with my music. On May 8, my new work, March of the Lava Fields, published by Northeastern Music Publications is being premiered by the Forsyth County 6th Grade Honor Band at Piney Grove Middle School (Cumming, Georgia), Dr. Steven Tyndall, conducting. On May 11 , my newest piece with Barnhouse, Heart and Home, will be premiered by the South Forsyth Middle School Symphonic Band. This piece is dedicated to my father, William Poor, and he will be in attendance at the premiere. On May 15-16 , I will be traveling to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to work with the Oak Grove High School Marching Band as they begin their 2015 marching band season. From May 23-May31 , I will be traveling to Rockford, Illinois, to work with the musicians of the Phantom Regiment as they begin to prepare for their 2015 summer tour performing their production, Paris: City of Gold!