As one of my all-time favorite movies, Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995), portrays the life of a musician turned teacher in the late 1960s through 1980s.  Richard Dreyfuss plays Mr. Holland who takes a teaching position to be able to earn money so that he can do what he really wants – compose a symphony.  However, along the way he starts to really connect with the students through music at their level. For instance, a football player becomes the lead bass drummer, Louis (played by Terrance Howard) but only after Mr. Holland spends a lot of time with him working on rhythm.  

Mr. Holland would be a transformational leader.  He really wants to not just teach music to the students, but he wants them to learn to love music as much as he does. According to our readings, a transformational leader would need to have certain characteristics:

·        Vision – Mr. Holland would like for the students in his class to learn to play and love music

·        Rhetorical skills – Mr. Holland is talented in music, but with teaching he did have a rough start

·        Image and trust building

·        Personalized leadership – Mr. Holland had made a connection with his students that lasted for decades

Follower Characteristics:

•Identification with leader and vision: The students created a bond with their band mates that lasted for decades.  (“Remember that one time, at band camp, where…” – I know different movie, but the line does fit with this.)

•Heightened emotional levels: The emotion that Louis shows after finally being able to keep rhythm is just phenomenal.

(Penn State University World Campus, 2013)

 

 When I first saw this movie, I was spellbound. Still to this day, I have certain scenes still memorized.  From the one that Mr. Holland teaches driver’s education; the memorial service for Louis who was killed in Vietnam; and the one where he finally connects with his son regarding music; and.   He finally realizes that just because his son has a disability, does not mean that they cannot enjoy the same things together. Unfortunately, he missed out on lots of opportunities. Fortunately, at the time that he realized that, he could make up for the lost ones.  Their mutual love for music gave Mr. Holland the chance to show that to his son’s school. It also taught him that with some small changes (adding lights for instance); people with hearing disabilities can also enjoy music.

 

After the fine arts program was cut for budget setbacks, he was forced to retire. Mr. Holland never thought that his students would remember him after high school.  His symphony was finally completed and his former students came to perform for him one last time his American Symphony.

References

Penn State University World Campus. (2013). Lesson 10: Transformational Leadership. Retrieved March 2013, from Psych 485: https://courses.worldcampus.psu.edu/sp13/psych485/002/content/10_lesson/04_page.html