Change is here to stay, but it’s sometimes unwelcome and can be a source of trepidation. In the words of Dee Hansen,

“Just the mention of changing processes and policies can evoke considerable angst and often fear. Time-honored traditions evolve over years of trial and error, success and failure. Changing tradition requires careful deliberation and thoughtful forward planning.”

Hansen continues: “If change is needed, a vision must be clearly articulated and shared with those who can plan, find necessary resources, and communicate effectively.  Sometimes it is not tradition that requires change, but the attitudes, respect, and support of administrators, community members, or faculty and staff.”  In all these cases, Hansen finds, the same type of process must occur:
 

• Identify the central issue, not the personalities or actions of specific individuals.
   
• Determine ways to educate and communicate with others about the key aspects of your point of view with factual and well-documented information.
   
• Develop a long-term plan with specified tasks, timeline, and people responsible so that the vision can be implemented purposefully.
   
• Be patient and positive. Change can be slow and often messy, but it is worth the effort.

MENC member Dee Hansen is an associate professor and chair of graduate studies in music education at The Hartt School, University of Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut, where she also directs the Hartt Summerterm.

Do you have a story about creative change? Other MENC Web readers might like to hear about your accomplishment. Contact Ella Wilcox at ellaw@menc.org.
 

--Ella Wilcox, September 16, 2009, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education (www.menc.org)