Band Leadership: "How do I gain respect and learn to best serve my peers the right way?!"

A special congratulations to Caleb Roberson for making drum major this year! Here's an answer to the questions he asked on my youtube channel:
Hey Mr. Huff, I’ve just been announced as Drum Major! I am so excited for this position. It has been my dream since I was young! Our band consists of maybe 100 people and I’m only a 10th grader! How do I gain respect and learn to best serve my peers the right way?!
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[@calebroberson9577]

Thank You So Much! This was so helpful! I will surely share this with my Band Director as well! You’re Awesome!!

[@BandLeadership]

Thank you, Caleb, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@rafaelespinoza1935]

Amazing, love this♥️♥️♥️

[@BandLeadership]

Thank you, Rafael!

[@krupap.357]

Hi Mr. Huff! I have a question/ am in need of some advice for this upcoming season if you’d be able to help! I am one of the two new drum majors for this season and am genuinely so excited for it, however I’ve been struggling a lot with comparison. I keep thinking about the previous drum majors, who were also my close friends, and have been comparing myself to them quite a bit. I tend to have thoughts about how they would probably handle things better and just seemed to know more than I do when they were in the same position. I have to constantly remind myself that the season hasn’t even started yet and that I’ll likely get a lot of band camps info with things I need to do beforehand from my band director around halfway through drum major camp which starts in 4 days. I still need to go to drum major camp (which our band boosters cover) and I know I’ll learn a lot with time and experience but the thought still lingers. I know that they were also stressed when they were in my position, my friend would mention it here and there, but it’s still scary. I’m worried that I’ll forget or won’t know about something important that I’m in charge of for band camp and will just let people down. People have had high expectations for me for a while now and would even talk about and ask me about becoming drum major from the beginning of last season when I was a just junior and section leader. I don’t want to disappoint everyone and want to live up to their expectations. However I don’t want to just mimic the previous leaders; I want to be my own version and do things because I think it’ll be good for the band, not just because others have done it in the past. I want to have individuality and confidence in my role while being able to work with the band effectively and have fun with everyone. Again I am so so excited for the season and my role and just wanted to see if you had any advice :)

[@BandLeadership]

Congratulations on making drum major! I can already tell you’re gonna do great things and be a very effective drum major, just from your level of care and concern for getting it right. There is definitely tons of advice I could give you at this point, and I’m definitely glad to, but to your point, you still drum major camp to go through. So let’s do this… Go through that process, I believe it will answer a lot of these questions you’re having. Once you’re finished, if there’s still some thing, you need advice on, shoot me a message or add to this comment thread, and I’ll gladly help you out. Most of the time they really do have things figured out at the drum major camp. Maybe that’s where your friends who were the previous drum majors got the answers that helped them. I will say this, though…” lead with a servants heart, be 100% true to yourself, and authentic with your peers, and do your very best in every situation.“. That’s all anybody can ask. When you make a mistake, own up to it, apologize, correct and move forward with the lessons you learn. You got this! Like I said, after drum, major camp, circle back to me and I’ll help you with anything that I can. Best wishes, and good luck!

[@davianahuertas2297]

How would I make my band family more inclusive as a drum major?

[@BandLeadership]

Set the example of love, inclusion, respect, praise and recognition of each and every individual in your band. Everyone has a voice and every voice is respected AS LONG AS that voice respects others.Treat every single person in your band as special and worthy of love and respect. YOUR example is and will be the greatest force in creating and perpetuating a culture of inclusion. Hope that serves! Bast wishes in the coming marching band season!