This may seem like a strange title but hopefully it will generate a little interest so you will read what has been written. At least you have read the first two sentences. Keep going.

The quick and most obvious answer to the question is never. When the question is narrowed down to knowing everything about music the answer is probably the same: never. We can narrow the question down even a bit further by limiting it to music education. This creates another question: Is there a difference between music and music education? Think about it.

If we focus on music education we could have a deep discussion about what is music education. Is there a difference between "music education" for children in elementary school and "music education" for high school choir students? If you teach in a middle school is there a difference between the "music education" you provide your string students and the "music education" a colleague in your school provides his/her band students?

Are you beginning to see the many facets of what members of our music education community (we call this a "profession") do day in and day out? Most of us have spent four, five or more years studying in a college or university in order to learn everything we needed to know to become a successful member of this profession. Clearly it is not possible to acquire ALL the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in that seemingly short period of time. Ask any higher education music faculty member.

I heard it said there was this student who had just graduated from a university. He said to the world, "I now have my AB degree. Look out world, here I come." The "world" said, "Sit down sonny and I will teach you the rest of the alphabet."

Granted, this was not a music education student with a BME degree, but you get the point.

Learning never ends. We can never know too much about the subject we teach or how to deliver it effectively to our students. This is why every music teacher (I prefer "teacher" to "educator") in the state should attend the KMEA In-Service Workshop every year. Not just to meet friends and colleagues and to "hang out" in Century II, but to learn by attending performances, seminars, demonstrations, and visiting with music merchants. Yes, music merchants have more to offer than candy, pizza slices, and candied nuts.

Have you ever wondered why we have an in-service workshop and not a convention or conference? Think about it. Every professional group you can probably name has a "convention." Some of these conventions, I have heard, are not much more than a fun break from members' daily routines. Often they are held in resort-type places with distractions for members such as golf, professional sports events, or casinos. I wonder what learning takes place.

KMEA has a "workshop." By definition a workshop is: "A group of people who meet regularly for a seminar in a specialized field." (American Heritage Dictionary, second college edition). That's us. In music education we have many specialized fields. Because no one can know everything about their particular specialized field, we come together to share ideas, discuss methods, be inspired by concerts, and be motivated to improve our effectiveness in teaching students. This is the bottom line: your students will never give the "perfect performance" and you will never know all there is to know about the subject you teach. Our students deserve quality teaching from quality teachers. Our professional conscious requires we give students our best. In my way of thinking, we don't teach music; we teach students. The subject is music. The process is music education. Isn't it great to be a member of a profession where you get to work with young people and teach them an art form that you love? And you get paid (a little) for doing it. Enjoy the KMEA In-Service Workshop and keep coming back every year.

David Circle, Past President of NAfME, SW Division of NAfME, and KMEA (Hall of Fame), was also the performing arts coordinating teacher for the Blue Valley School District and taught at the elementary, junior high, and high school levels. He was recently honored by NAfME as a 50-Year Member.