Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1349911
Because of his passion for music, it came as no surprise to Andrew's students, colleagues, and friends that the Wyoming Music Educators Association (WMEA) named him Wyoming Music Educator of the Year. "That is humbling," said Andrew, "having people see you doing what you love to do every day and recognizing it." Salzman's own high school band director, Dave Bellis, received the award, as did Rawlins High School Choir legend—as Andrew describes him—Roy Dahlinger. "Those two alone are standing among giants in my current position as RHS Band Director, but then you look at all of the other Wyoming Music Education legends...I feel like a little kid," he said. Salzman is quick to turn the limelight from himself. "Ultimately, I wouldn't be receiving this award if it weren't for my students," he said. "We do everything we do for them, and they have pushed me to be who I am today. I also owe a debt of gratitude to my colleagues, current and former, both in Rawlins and in the SBHB Music District. For Andrew Salzman, the Director of Bands at Rawlins High School, this has been a year to remember. When school buildings closed to in- person instruction in March of 2020, it disrupted every class. But, for Band, building closures posed a unique set of challenges. "I just wanted to keep all of my students engaged and hoped they felt cared about even though we couldn't see one another in person," he told WEA News. Even after students returned to classrooms across Wyoming, their experiences in this current school year have looked far from normal. Salzman contends that relying on online platforms for non-performing classes has changed the delivery of content, "Some days I like the streamlined aspect of it," he said, "other days I feel disconnected from the kids, and I feel they are disconnected from each other. But we make the best of it and strive to make relationships outweigh that disconnect." It's a sad irony—in a time when the world is together in grappling with the same challenge during this pandemic, the isolation and distance inherent in essential public health measures like masking and social distancing can leave some students feeling lonely and adrift. Salzman believes there's solace to be found in the universality of music. "Music is one of our only universal languages that the human race has," says Salzman. "It expresses what words cannot. It moves people to tears or to revolution. It is one of the most powerful tools on earth, and we owe it to our students to help them experience, learn and enjoy it." Find Harmony Helping Students Music is one of our only universal languages that the human race has. It expresses what words cannot. It moves people to tears or to revolution. It is one of the most powerful tools on earth, and we owe it to our students to help them experience, learn and enjoy it. Covering everything from teaching Band through the pandemic to the universality of music with Carbon One Educators Associat ion Co-President Andrew Salzman, recently named Wyoming's Music Educator of the Year. — Andrew Salzman Andrew (second row, far left) poses with the Rawlins High School band at the State Marching Festival. 2019. State Marching Festival. Casper Events Center. 2019. 11