I had the amazing opportunity to go to Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser’s Student Leadership Workshop at Decatur High School on Thursday, August 29th. The cost was $35, and it was worth every single penny. For those of you who do not know who Dr. Tim is, allow me to explain. He is a well-known name in the music education world as a teacher, clinician, author, composer, consultant, and adjudicator. Presently, he holds the Earl Dunn Distinguished Lecturer position at Ball State University.

After school that Thursday evening, the Band Leadership Team and the Choir Leadership Counsel, hopped on a bus and made their way over to Decatur High School. We got there thirty minutes early, sat in seats towards the front, and conversed with each other and students from the other schools who were making their way inside of the band room.

Dr. Tim started the night off by asking us a few questions about what departments we are in and if we have attended his workshop before. Before continuing on, he made sure that everyone had a paper and something to write with. 

Gabby Brucue, Grade 12 said that, “It was very worthwhile and if anyone has the opportunity to go they should go, you learn a lot about leadership. Dr. Tim came off very intense at first, but he got more relaxed as the night went on.” 

Several times throughout the night, he had us get up and move around the room to meet new people. His Workshop is truly inspiring and I recommend that if you have the chance to go, then you should definitely go. Although it will take more than one time going in order to fully understand his message, you can still apply the information to your everyday life.

At the end of the night, he told us about what leaders do, they Listen more, have more Energy, Adknowledge more, they are more Dedicated, more Enthusiastic, more Responsible, and lastly, more Sensitive. These are the qualities that make leaders.