With 30 years as a music director under his belt, Eric Wattleworth knows a thing or two about helping students develop and hone their musical skills. As the Warrensburg-Latham Band and Choral Director for grades 5-12 in Warrensburg, Illinois, Wattleworth has traveled with ETI to Florida since 2002.
“My wife Becky has been my lead chaperone on all of our music trips, and we have three children who have all been able to participate in these trips as student participants,” shared Wattleworth. “Our bands and choirs have performed at Disney and Universal workshops and both concert and marching band performances with our high school students.”
These trips, Wattleworth said, have provided so many valuable experiences for his students over the years.
“Getting to perform in front of so many people in one of the most magical places is inspiring,” Wattleworth said. “In addition, the opportunity to work with Disney professional musicians in an intimate setting can be life changing as students learn the dedication and work ethic it takes to be successful.”
Some of Wattleworth’s favorite memories from his various trips over the years always comes back to watching students become friends with others outside their usual circle.
“Students learn that they have far more in common than they realize,” Wattleworth said. “Moreover, for the remainder of the school year, students seem to be more focused and driven to reach their full potential because together they have accomplished something extraordinary.”
Wattleworth’s advice to other directors who are debating about traveling with their student groups is straightforward: Just do it!
“Whether it’s a weekend trip a few hours away or a week-long destination trip, you will learn so much about your students that you simply cannot in the school setting,” he said. “These are trips that build lasting relationships that can exist even after they leave your classroom. I have students who are 20 years removed from a trip and will still recall those special moments and how it motivated them to follow their passion.”
While Wattleworth’s very first trip with ETI happened by chance, choosing to continue to work with them over the years has been very intentional.
“The staff at ETI have been nothing but helpful and personable no matter which department you are working with,” Wattleworth said. “They give valuable advice and understand what it’s like to work with performing groups. The tour managers that assist with the trip are able to handle almost any issue and resolve them while allowing the director to take care of the important musical activities.
“ETI's staff genuinely cares about you and your students and providing them with the best possible experience. To them, it’s more than a job—it’s an opportunity to change and inspire young people!”
Courtesy of ETI.
