Foreword to a Life-Changing Experience by Dr. Terren Frenz: “Give It Away”
From memories of his teenage years and participation in the Marlington High School Band, Michael Simpkins has crafted a marvelous accounting of his thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
His combination of these actions, while engaging in what was a very strong growth process happening to an exceptional group of band students, their families, and community will be revealed in a most unique way. Marlington High School located in northeast Ohio, is buried among cornfields, three tiny crossroad communities, and solid citizens believing in the “American Dream”.
The author “Mike” will continually allude to or suggest that it was I who was the catalyst to this experience. Although I indeed was a participant in this unusual series of successes, I believe that all the main ingredients to create a perfect storm were in play at this time and place in the universe. The students, their parents, the school district administration and faculty, the school board all contributed to the massive successes of these very special students.
With many hours of collaboration, Mike and I have explored all these ingredients, as well as the significant persons who were directly involved in the day-to-day operations of the “Marching Dukes of Marlington”. It was indeed my honor to have been the band director of this exemplary music program for twenty-one years.
The hundreds of e-mails, telephone calls, and letters I have received over the past 30 years give credibility to the value of doing everything within your power to ensure that young people have quality music education in their lives. This, in turn, will ensure great citizens in the future.
Any musician who has ever picked up a director’s baton will certainly appreciate Mike’s thoughts and feelings.
Dr. Terren L. Frenz, Director
Marlington High School
Band Director- 1973-1994
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