Black Julliard Conservatory of Music?
They told us we couldn't do it, our dream was too big to achieve, so we took our bands to the top of the charts and completed that dream. Negative words would overwhelm us, we were so absorbed in teaching, that we’d only see community support in the form of grand applause. Life in a box, or so we thought. We gave the keys back, but never did we throw the idea away, we just worked.
Our message has gotten more breathtaking, our operations pristine, our pedagogy world-class, when our band steps out it will be the best you've ever seen, the goal now is to astonish the crowd. We've traveled thousands of miles, planned for 8 years, cultivated partnerships, it is our comeback year. If you've been around to see the 2nd coming of any artist, then you know it's going to be great; we are here to stay, our comeback is going to be epic.
We know the world isn't perfect, and we want it all and God gives us some, and we can solve God's equation now, if God gives us some, then we can do the rest and equate the sum of a marching band. So we know that with very little in terms of resource, a wealth of knowledge and community support, the triple threat of cooperation results in an easy win, win for the kids, the parents, the community, our school, the Institute, the people behind the music too.
We've seen it all, band dogs, cats, babies, we've cried at funerals, and we'll never forget the word sacrifice, because at one point BAND was the Institute, the Institute was Band, there was no I. When you're raising the next generation of leaders, your mind turns into a plot graph, where you're constantly setting and raising the bar. You might have come to the program mediocre, but one thing we can attest to 5 stars later is that you were leaving great.
Transparency is the ingredient that matters, our secret ingredient is the system. When we say we'll teach you to read music, play an instrument, learn your scales, music theory, march, dance, how to organize, plan, execute, lead, sacrifice, carry yourself with honor, dignity, respect, then that is our guarantee and we've made good on that since 2004. We speak openly, honestly as a band, the band learns early how to use a spreadsheet. Communication since 2004 we have utilized every vehicle, path and means, resulting in invitations, articles, awards, and mastery. Music brought kids to a node, and from that node they unified on a path toward greatness, and that right there is the vision, the goal.
The future we can only plan, for the only thing I do know, is that the sun will rise with me, and as long as we remained blessed, then let the lord allow The Brooklyn Music & Leadership Institute a day when it will once again lead band after band to national victory. We will lead one of the greatest marching bands in the history of this country, not for our benefit but for the greater good of the community, the parents, the schools, the kids, the future. It’s 2020 nearly, and with plans to stay relevant well into the future, I wonder what music we’ll play, designs we will make and uniforms we will be wearing in 2060? The future is bright, and our time is now. Brooklyn deserves the best, so we’re here to stay, for Brooklyn, because we love our borough, the concrete jungle that it is.
A great band director once spoke about gardening. He was right to say that the best fruit and vegetables often have the best fertilizer, and with BMLI all we need now is water to drink, air to breathe, a band to teach, with instruments. Join our journey, have you donated? Choose this 501c3 www.brooklyn-leadership.org
Brooklyn – Bed-Stuy, Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, Flat bush, East Flat bush, Church Ave, Flatlands, East New York, Canarsie, Brownsville, Boro Park, Fort Green, DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn, Parkslope, Sunset Park, Bensonhurst, Coney Island, and those communities who do not wish to be named. ABCDFGNQR 2345 Trains Yo Atlantic Terminal – Battery Tunnel, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, Williamsburg Bridge. Marching Band 6th-9th Grade – 5 star rated arts service organization.
