Teamwork in the Music Room

Students ting playfully and jostling each other, commenting on last night's hockey scores and the penalties incurred during the games played by their peers. Hockey jackets adorn the young men, and when the students sign their essays, they include their jersey numbers in bold script. Their identities are closely intertwined with their roles as athletes, and they are proud of that. Teachers watch their behavior with a combination of jealousy and frustration. Although the sometimesarrogant attitude that the students display is out of place in the English classroom, there is something to be admired about the dedication and commitment that is evident among these teammates. How can these positive attributes be accessed in other situations? Next door to the band room, a basketball practice is starting. Although the coach is occupied with paperwork, several of the players start stretching, running laps, and shooting hoops. The team captain shouts encouragement, and soon all the players are whooping out a team cheer. Each of the players has a pet name, and as they line up to practice free throws, teammates clap to give confidence to each other. The desire to play well is so strong that several of the girls have asked for permission to have an extra practice session at 7:30 a.m. The drive for success has created focus