Kathy's Musings
I believe that most of our teaching techniques are borrowed or passed down from generations who taught before us. We take these techniques, update them to keep up with current trends and technology, and make it our own. The resulting techniques may look slightly different from the original idea, but may ultimately be a better fit for the times and circumstances. I believe in asking questions and seeking help from others. I believe that everyone should have multiple mentors and have clinicians come out to observe teaching staff to offer suggestions and to grow teachers. To stay fresh, I think you should seek professional develop and continue to hone your craft. Make time to go out and observe master teachers in all content areas. Go out and listen to other bands at concerts, contests, and tape hearings for honor band. I believe that you should keep the sounds of a quality ensemble in your head by listening to quality recordings, or better yet, by attending live performances of collegiate or professional organizations.
Musical Independence
Achieving musical independence and excellence is a longitudinal process. It starts the first time a student walks into an elementary music classroom where they learn to have fun and gain an appreciation for all elements of music and music making. Their first experience in learning to play an instrument needs to be engaging, fun, and the highest quality of instruction. Their first ensemble experience should be interactive and students should have an understanding of each individuals function within the ensemble. This is all a sound foundation on which to build strong individual musicians throughout your band, creating depth and meaningful experiences and performance ability. I see our ultimate goal as music educators is to develop lovers, consumers, & perpetuators of all music and the performing arts.
Phil's Musings
Try to keep an open mind when it comes to listening to and experiencing a variety of music genres.
As we expand our “sonic vocabulary”, we are equipping our ears with a larger palette of styles/sounds/colors upon which to draw as we create our own music. It is our goal to convey the composer’s intent to our ensemble and for our ensemble to convey that to the audience. Our audiences should actually “feel” something, not just “hear” it.
Putting music together is a group project. All musicians involved are responsible for doing their part in assembling the project. As conductors (or project managers), we must equip our students with the necessary tools to build this project (tone, articulation, technique, etc.). It’s a lot like building a house:
TONE acts as the solid foundation upon which everything else is built.
TECHNIQUE provides the precise and solid framework to the structure, including clarity and definition of lines. And finally, MUSICIANSHIP provides the colors, textures and ornaments which we use to bring the project to life!
During daily rehearsals, engage ALL your students in insightful, musical dialogue. Move around the room often and be passionate about what you are doing! Ask them to listen; ask them questions; ask for their opinion; have them sing more; have them move more; and ask them to be vulnerable enough to create emotion as they play! My favorite words to use in a rehearsal are artistry, direction, and most importantly, ESPRESSIVO!! Without expression, there is no music. Happy music making, all!!
As we expand our “sonic vocabulary”, we are equipping our ears with a larger palette of styles/sounds/colors upon which to draw as we create our own music. It is our goal to convey the composer’s intent to our ensemble and for our ensemble to convey that to the audience. Our audiences should actually “feel” something, not just “hear” it.
Putting music together is a group project. All musicians involved are responsible for doing their part in assembling the project. As conductors (or project managers), we must equip our students with the necessary tools to build this project (tone, articulation, technique, etc.). It’s a lot like building a house:
TONE acts as the solid foundation upon which everything else is built.
TECHNIQUE provides the precise and solid framework to the structure, including clarity and definition of lines. And finally, MUSICIANSHIP provides the colors, textures and ornaments which we use to bring the project to life!
During daily rehearsals, engage ALL your students in insightful, musical dialogue. Move around the room often and be passionate about what you are doing! Ask them to listen; ask them questions; ask for their opinion; have them sing more; have them move more; and ask them to be vulnerable enough to create emotion as they play! My favorite words to use in a rehearsal are artistry, direction, and most importantly, ESPRESSIVO!! Without expression, there is no music. Happy music making, all!!