Another year has passed, and quickly Q3 is approaching (it starts tomorrow).
I have to admit that after midwest I really needed a vacation to just veg out and relax. Now that school is starting up again, I am finding it pretty easy to get back in the mode and hit the ground running.
My goals for this quarter are as follows:
- Finish up PEP-T
- Work on improving the lower level skilled players in both orchestra
- Find a way to challenge the advanced students/prepare them to move on for next year
- Incorporate snapgrades into my routine as a way of improving parent communication
- Survive another quarter :-p
No concerts or anything this quarter but we do have the SO orchestra camp and we have to be ready by the end of the quarter to perform since after spring break there really is no time. Oh I almost forgot a goal:
-Help to make CDBF honor band awesome
Monday, January 3, 2011
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Midwest 2010 Day 3
Another day done at Midwest.
Started the day by going to a session by Paula Cider. It was very inspirational and spoke to a lot of issues that we have to deal with as educators.
After that I visited the exhibits for one last time and picked up a new baton and got a free case with it since it was from an old friend, Guy Lake.
I then attended an interesting clinic hosted by Mark Wood. It dealt with electric orchestra and rock and roll orchestra. I wonder if this will gain more popularity and if we will be seeing more of this in then schools.
The next session was hosted by David Vandewalker and dealt with ensemble clarity. Good stuff. Lots of practical ideas that can be applied to both band and orchestra. The big idea was to quantify abstract ideas to help clarify and make the rehearsals go more efficiently.
For the fourth session I went to a clinic on vibrato. Good refresher and had some interesting data to be shared.
To wrap up the day I finished with a clinic by Yo Goto. It was really neat to see how the Japanese club bands operate. There's a lot there to be learned. In essence the student engagement is through the roof as they give feedback and also run rehearsals/sectionals. The discipline and engagement is phenomenal. I am brainstorming how to incorporate some of these ideas into my teaching.
Gotta post a group pic of us later that we took at the end.
Goals/task:
- incorporate Japan ideas into my teaching
- quantify abstract ideas
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Started the day by going to a session by Paula Cider. It was very inspirational and spoke to a lot of issues that we have to deal with as educators.
After that I visited the exhibits for one last time and picked up a new baton and got a free case with it since it was from an old friend, Guy Lake.
I then attended an interesting clinic hosted by Mark Wood. It dealt with electric orchestra and rock and roll orchestra. I wonder if this will gain more popularity and if we will be seeing more of this in then schools.
The next session was hosted by David Vandewalker and dealt with ensemble clarity. Good stuff. Lots of practical ideas that can be applied to both band and orchestra. The big idea was to quantify abstract ideas to help clarify and make the rehearsals go more efficiently.
For the fourth session I went to a clinic on vibrato. Good refresher and had some interesting data to be shared.
To wrap up the day I finished with a clinic by Yo Goto. It was really neat to see how the Japanese club bands operate. There's a lot there to be learned. In essence the student engagement is through the roof as they give feedback and also run rehearsals/sectionals. The discipline and engagement is phenomenal. I am brainstorming how to incorporate some of these ideas into my teaching.
Gotta post a group pic of us later that we took at the end.
Goals/task:
- incorporate Japan ideas into my teaching
- quantify abstract ideas
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:S Indiana Ave,Chicago,United States
Friday, December 17, 2010
Midwest 2010 Day 2
Day 2 of Midwest was just as awesome as day 1, albeit a little tiring.
I started the day in a Sibelius demonstration where I picked a few tips and shortcuts in Sibelius. I also learned more about photo score and Got a couple of new websites to use to find music.
The second session of day involved standard based education in our ensembles. The idea I took away from it was to shift focus away from the group and focus once again on the individual student.
For the third block of the day I went to listen to a great HS orchestra and got some repertoire ideas. The afternoon sessions weren't as good but I did pick up some useful conducting ideas and movement ideas.
I closed out the day by listening to a great community band and then another full orchestra.
Great news for the day: I won a FREE copy of Sibelius 6 today!!!
Goals/ideas for future:
- use the Internet to help create a more well rounded music experience and address state standards (website/blackboard)
- create sight reading folders
- use photo score and Sibelius to create easier parts for struggling students
- use photo score and Sibelius to arrange more music from Internet for strings (e.g. String quartets)
- when conducting arrangements order original scores
- incorporate more student movement into lessons/playing
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I started the day in a Sibelius demonstration where I picked a few tips and shortcuts in Sibelius. I also learned more about photo score and Got a couple of new websites to use to find music.
The second session of day involved standard based education in our ensembles. The idea I took away from it was to shift focus away from the group and focus once again on the individual student.
For the third block of the day I went to listen to a great HS orchestra and got some repertoire ideas. The afternoon sessions weren't as good but I did pick up some useful conducting ideas and movement ideas.
I closed out the day by listening to a great community band and then another full orchestra.
Great news for the day: I won a FREE copy of Sibelius 6 today!!!
Goals/ideas for future:
- use the Internet to help create a more well rounded music experience and address state standards (website/blackboard)
- create sight reading folders
- use photo score and Sibelius to create easier parts for struggling students
- use photo score and Sibelius to arrange more music from Internet for strings (e.g. String quartets)
- when conducting arrangements order original scores
- incorporate more student movement into lessons/playing
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:S Indiana Ave,Chicago,United States
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Midwest 2010 Day 1
Today was the first day of the 2010 Midwest clinic. It was AWESOME!
After registering we went browsing around the vendors. There were so many. I purchased a set of suspended cymbal mallets that have no contact noise.
The first clinic I went to was on wind partials and the overtone series. It was okay and I received a very useful handout. It made me realize that I need to review my wind instrumental fingering and pitch tendencies.
The 2nd session of the day focused on string bass technique. Got lots of good info and also purchased two books with exercises and etudes for string bass. The new goal is to spend more individualized time focusing on the basses
The last clinic of the day focused on string bowing. Good info too and a good packet. After that I was speaking with H. Watanabe about method books and next year I am going to switch to a new method. The year after I want to incorporate the Essential Elements Book 4 as well.
To close out the night we watched the Marine Corp band (pic below) and then the Michigan State Jazz orchestra (which totally rocked!).
To recap goals/lessons from today:
- work on relearning wind instrument fingerings/tendencies
- incorporate overtone series into score study (be proactive about intonation)
- create a set-up for percussion ALL THE TIME
- focus on bass technique/development more (individualized attention)
- Incorporate more right hand technique exercises into warm up (pencil)
- transition to new method book over next two years
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
After registering we went browsing around the vendors. There were so many. I purchased a set of suspended cymbal mallets that have no contact noise.
The first clinic I went to was on wind partials and the overtone series. It was okay and I received a very useful handout. It made me realize that I need to review my wind instrumental fingering and pitch tendencies.
The 2nd session of the day focused on string bass technique. Got lots of good info and also purchased two books with exercises and etudes for string bass. The new goal is to spend more individualized time focusing on the basses
The last clinic of the day focused on string bowing. Good info too and a good packet. After that I was speaking with H. Watanabe about method books and next year I am going to switch to a new method. The year after I want to incorporate the Essential Elements Book 4 as well.
To close out the night we watched the Marine Corp band (pic below) and then the Michigan State Jazz orchestra (which totally rocked!).
To recap goals/lessons from today:
- work on relearning wind instrument fingerings/tendencies
- incorporate overtone series into score study (be proactive about intonation)
- create a set-up for percussion ALL THE TIME
- focus on bass technique/development more (individualized attention)
- Incorporate more right hand technique exercises into warm up (pencil)
- transition to new method book over next two years
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Chicago, Illinois
Monday, December 6, 2010
2010 Winter Concert Reflections
This past Saturday was our 2010 Winter Concert at P.C.C.C.
Overall it went very well. Here are some positives about the evening:
- Creating my action plan really helped to stay organize - next concert create one for presidents of both orchestras and maybe EMs
- Performance was at the level of expectations. CO performed really well on the Ivanov.
- CO was well behaved and managed themselves very well; kudos goes to the officers for their diligence
Things to improve on:
- CS behavior before the concert was very unfocused - need to find a way to better focus them... some kind of activity perhaps
- Stage transitions were slow because of incorrect order (should be split in two; fill from front of stage first)
- EM's didn't all show up for loading/unloading
After evaluating their concert I think I would like to push them a little harder than I originally had planned. I'm ordering a couple more pieces to help with this and am thinking of replacing one of the CO pieces with "Danse Bachanelle" that is more challenging.
Overall it went very well. Here are some positives about the evening:
- Creating my action plan really helped to stay organize - next concert create one for presidents of both orchestras and maybe EMs
- Performance was at the level of expectations. CO performed really well on the Ivanov.
- CO was well behaved and managed themselves very well; kudos goes to the officers for their diligence
Things to improve on:
- CS behavior before the concert was very unfocused - need to find a way to better focus them... some kind of activity perhaps
- Stage transitions were slow because of incorrect order (should be split in two; fill from front of stage first)
- EM's didn't all show up for loading/unloading
After evaluating their concert I think I would like to push them a little harder than I originally had planned. I'm ordering a couple more pieces to help with this and am thinking of replacing one of the CO pieces with "Danse Bachanelle" that is more challenging.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Q2 Almost Done
I just realized today that I've been so busy that I haven't updated in the past several weeks :(
Marching Band = Finished
- Festivals this year were wonderful. The students did a great job. Reflecting on it for next year, I think I'm going to create a better plan for warm-ups. We should also re-evaluate the brass warm-up book - gotta focus on a tuning exercise more.
- Final Bash is such a wonderful event. I had a blast and got to see the seniors on stage was really nice.
For the concert groups we've been working hard to get ready for concert. They should be ready. Next year I'm going to only do one wind piece so that I don't have to worry/stress out about the winds/percs. Upcoming events/to-dos:
- picture taking (today)
- ticket sales
- seating chart
The piano class has hit a bit of a lull. I haven't had too much time to plan/break this lull, so over winter break I'll be thinking about this class a lot. I think I'm going to need to order more materials (supplemental) for them and also have a better long term plan.
My other to-do lately has been to create/compile all of my to-do lists into action plans. That way next year I won't have to keep recreating my lists.
I'll post a video later of the marching band.
Marching Band = Finished
- Festivals this year were wonderful. The students did a great job. Reflecting on it for next year, I think I'm going to create a better plan for warm-ups. We should also re-evaluate the brass warm-up book - gotta focus on a tuning exercise more.
- Final Bash is such a wonderful event. I had a blast and got to see the seniors on stage was really nice.
For the concert groups we've been working hard to get ready for concert. They should be ready. Next year I'm going to only do one wind piece so that I don't have to worry/stress out about the winds/percs. Upcoming events/to-dos:
- picture taking (today)
- ticket sales
- seating chart
The piano class has hit a bit of a lull. I haven't had too much time to plan/break this lull, so over winter break I'll be thinking about this class a lot. I think I'm going to need to order more materials (supplemental) for them and also have a better long term plan.
My other to-do lately has been to create/compile all of my to-do lists into action plans. That way next year I won't have to keep recreating my lists.
I'll post a video later of the marching band.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Q2 Underway
I know it's been a while since I've updated. Things got really hectic.
To recap latest events:
1) Aloha week parade - was a blast. Students did really well. The experience here at MoHS is so much more positive... it actually makes the parade fun! Next year gotta think about the cadence approach again.
2) Band camp - even bigger blast. Students were well behaved and getting to know the staff was really fun. Next year I think I want to find a way to help Seta out more to alleviate some of his workload. Also work with officers to create check-list of to-do's so that they don't have to start from scratch every year.
3) Q2 - started and going strong. My goals for this quarter is to get them prepared for concert. I also want to cover a little more theory to make their musical experiences more well rounded.
On another note, B. Hirata from MiHS and I were discussing creating a Central District Honors Orchestra. I'm hoping we can get the others on board and get it started next year. Good things on the horizon.
Mene classic is this weekend. The band is ready and will have a great performance. More to come later :)
To recap latest events:
1) Aloha week parade - was a blast. Students did really well. The experience here at MoHS is so much more positive... it actually makes the parade fun! Next year gotta think about the cadence approach again.
2) Band camp - even bigger blast. Students were well behaved and getting to know the staff was really fun. Next year I think I want to find a way to help Seta out more to alleviate some of his workload. Also work with officers to create check-list of to-do's so that they don't have to start from scratch every year.
3) Q2 - started and going strong. My goals for this quarter is to get them prepared for concert. I also want to cover a little more theory to make their musical experiences more well rounded.
On another note, B. Hirata from MiHS and I were discussing creating a Central District Honors Orchestra. I'm hoping we can get the others on board and get it started next year. Good things on the horizon.
Mene classic is this weekend. The band is ready and will have a great performance. More to come later :)
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