If we had a dollar for every time we heard of a student having: headphones on in class, distracting impromptu desk-drumming sessions, and/or a homework-cramming session on the band bus after an away game, we'd probably have roughly enough cash to fund a full ride for every TXGU teen's college of choice—with maybe enough left over to start development on that luxury TXGU educator yacht we've been dreaming of. But as much as music might seem like more of a diversion than a learning tool—especially with (insert old-school angry-parent voices here) that stuff those kids are trying to play these days—the latest out of the University of Florida is that learning to operate a musical instrument does nothing but help student cognitive function, creative abilities, and college aptitude! Not too shabby for some skins and strings...
So, if you have any TXGU'ers under your wing who express any interest in literally marching to the beat of their own drum (or flute or pipe organ or whatever) inside the classroom or out, definitely encourage them! They could very well be writing the notes to their own futures...plus getting a shout-out in their eventual Behind the Music episodes would be extra-awesome.
