Passing the Baton

After 18 years of teaching in Glasgow, Dr. Brad Persinger is retiring this spring. Originally from Kansas, Persinger moved to Glasgow in 2001. He has taught band for 18 years, and for 12 of those years, he has also taught choir. From recorder to guitar, Persinger has done it all. I went to the GHS band room to interview him on Monday, March 18, just as the school day ended. I waded through a sea of dismissed concert band students while Persinger straightened up his classroom. We settled in at the front of the room between a piano and the music stand he conducts class from and began our conversation.

What started as an application for a job in 2001 turned into an 18-year commitment to Glasgow's music program. When I asked what kept him here so long, Persinger described how the choir teacher at the time mentored him and, "After a few years, it seemed like it was working. And, if something is working, why change it? I don't know if I intended to be here that long, but I got involved with the community, and 18 years later, I'm still here."

He fondly recalled deciding to become a teacher after being inspired by his own high school band director. Persinger attended a school slightly smaller than Glasgow, with approximately 200 students, 100 of whom were in band. "He was instrumental- no pun intended- in getting me involved with music," Persinger stated,"He built that program into what it was. It wouldn't stop." Because of that experience, Persinger wanted to be a director and build up a music program of his own. His teacher helped excite him about music, and also taught Persinger to transpose in his head during church performances by giving him the organ or piano music and telling him how many accidentals to add in. Persinger attended the college he did because of his director. "You never know the impact you have on someone's life until later on." Persinger explained, "He was just one of those people I wanted to emulate. Teachers have a big impact on kids' lives."

It was easy for Persinger to move to Glasgow since he had grown up in rural Kansas. He feels that it's important, especially in music, for teachers not to come and go too often. The rate of teacher turnover and the difficulty recruiting music teachers across the state concerns him. He compared it to sports programs in which coaches turn over frequently, "If you want a good program, the person has to stay and be committed and students have to know that. We are a performing group, sports is a performance activity. As a musician, you have something invested in this. You have to have teachers willing to stay."

He suspects money might be a driving force in why more students don't choose to go into education, but, "How can you put the impact of teaching in monetary terms? Teachers have more power than most anyone in society- the pay doesn't go with it."

His own future plans are open-ended at the moment. He knows where he is moving and has put his name in for a few jobs. He's both nervous and excited, but feels confident that he will find a good job teaching in Kansas.

Persinger isn't new to change. During his time as a teacher, he has watched the Internet and technology shift the way music is taught fundamentally. He said YouTube has become a huge tool for students to learn how to play instruments. Guitar class has also grown in popularity, which Persinger attributes to popular music and musical competition shows.

While some things change, others remain over the years as tradition. Glasgow has a fair share of traditions in the music program which predate Persinger. He feels it's important to learn and carry on traditions such as wearing the kilts, playing "Tunes of Glory" at graduation and Homecoming and the choir singing "Scotland the Brave" at Homecoming. He also has made an effort over the years to make sure the last song the seniors play at graduation has a Scottish theme.

When I asked about his aspirations for the future of GHS' music program, Persinger said, "I would like to see someone come in with new ideas to do different things with the program, offer different classes, take (the students) to some different festivals to participate in. Everyone has unique talents and someone could come in and steer the program differently. It's time to step away and let someone else come in who has some good ideas. The nice thing about the band or the choir is that it's going to be there. The person in charge will change, but it is self-running. The band was going for a long time before me and will continue a long time after me; I am literally and figuratively handing the baton off to the next person. I know that I've contributed to something bigger than myself. I've been privileged to be part of it... It's the community's band, the school's band, I just got to lead it for awhile."