The Director's Covenant: 4 Promises We Make Our Students

1. I will always respect you

Respect the special quality of each individual’s God-given singing voice and musical expression.  Respect the value and dignity of every human soul. Respect the priesthood of every believer: Recognize the anointing each person has and help them step into their calling. Be a servant leader.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. -1 Peter 4:10

2. I will never embarrass you

Always prepare the group well and avoid putting them in situations to feel unprepared, uncomfortable or awkward. Put people in a position to be successful. Set them up to thrive.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another. –Romans 12:10

I think about the way that Jesus set his disciples up for success the first time he sent them out and they came back victorious and excited. I think about the way we are told to correct people for their sins in private before confronting them publicly. (Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 18:15-17)

3. I will say Please, Thank-you, You’re Welcome and My Pleasure

Remember what an incredible privilege, honor and sacred trust it is to teach and lead this amazing group of people.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. -Colossians 4:6

       

4. I will always take care of you

This includes developing and caring for each individual’s vocal health and musical development as well as their spiritual development.

Make my joy complete be being of one mind, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves. Each of you should look, no only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. -Philippians 2:3

Special thanks to Jeanette Cowherd who always promised to never embarrass us and who took respect to a higher lever by loving her students and genuinely caring about us. I would also like to show appreciation to Anthony Maiello who articulated these promises so well at the Texas Bandmasters Conference last week, showing that they could be unconditional commitments. I have added commentary and Scripture references to show how these promises can be applied in a Christian setting.