Observations with Kelly Berdahl

Dear me,

The first thing that I noticed about Mr. Berdahl is that he had a plan for the group and also had goals in mind. He demonstrated this a number of different ways:

1. The warm ups were a learning experience and could be used to help them out with the pieces they were working on.
2.  He told them to pass in one piece because it was "too easy" for them. This made them feel really good about their work as an ensemble I bet. Maybe that would be just a good idea to do anyway! Just pass out a piece every once in a while that is a little too easy for them. It'll boost their confidence! I bet that's what he was thinking...clever!
3. He had huge elaborate shields as hall passes. He wanted the group to all be there for rehearsal so he devised this plan so they would only want to leave if it was an emergency. Haha I think it worked pretty well and was just awesome overall! I tried to make that relate to the topic that I started with.  : ]

Besides these goals, there were some other things that I observed while watching his class twice. (After this post I will write about my experience with leading warm ups.)

1. Once he asked them who could help play at the basketball game that weekend. No one volunteered and they were chatting amongst themselves. That made him...come unglued. He told them that they should be proud of these girls who had made it this far and that they should be able to take just two hours out of their weekend to represent their school in this way. It was quite alarming and this kind of tone from Kelly Berdahl probably helped them to remember what their goals were.  I think having a talk like this every once in a while would benefit the group and help put them on track again (although I don't think I'll be able to get quite that sort of volume...). Like Dr. Stark said, he wasn't upset with them, but more at the decision they were making.  
2. He gave great compliments and made them work for them. I really want to work on making my compliments more meaningful and say them a little less often so they want to work for it. Quality over quantity! 
3. He was very expressive with his conducting which I think makes them want to watch him.

Lot's to think about :) 

Your friend,

Shannalee

Blog 5: Elements of a Successful Program

Dear Future Me,

I hope you are having an excellent day. You have a wonderful smile. Hey, the color of your shirt matches your eyes! What is all this leading into? Well, I don't know. BUT! Here are your Top Ten Elements of a Successful Music Program (TTESMP). Actually, you are supposed to list "ten things that you will fight for in order to protect the sanctity of your ensemble". Ahem.

1. TIME with students
2. Instruments and equipment
3. A good rehearsal room with room for instruments
4. School/community desire for a program
5. Policies and Procedures supported by parents, teachers, and administrators. (I think it's most important for administrators to be on board with Policies and Procedures. So talk to them so they know what they are!)
6. Advanced planning (I will plan ahead so everyone knows what is expected of them as far as performances and other such things.)
7. Parent Booster Organization (fundraising for trips, advocacy, etc.)
8. Support from guardians for practicing
9. Attendance at ALL concerts
10. Quality Repertoire

I put Quality Repertoire at the end because I figure, I can always arrange something and or borrow something from other schools. This list is very important to me though as I feel that I will have a great program if I remember that this list ensures quality education for my students.

Warm regards,

Shannalee

Observations with Sallee Nelson (CJMS)

Dear Shannalee,

You have attended Chief Joseph Middle School's 7th grade band class three times at this point. Key points you've taken from the first class with Ms. Nelson teaching are as follows:

1. You need a hand free microphone. I've been worried about your voice being strained in this setting, future Shannalee, and I think that this is a solution to that. (11:11 make a wish!)
2. Ms. Nelson had a good way of breaking down sections of music so they are easier to understand. She took rhythms step by step so the students didn't get frustrated by them. 
3. She moved the rehearsal along so there were no dull moments, no long pauses. She knew what she wanted to get done.

The second time you attended, you taught the clarinet section a sectional. Jeph Morris learned their names and then you taught them a rhythm. After that you worked through tough spots in their music. Here are some things you learned:

1. Junior high girls are chatty. Give them incentive to stay quiiiiiiieeeet. (Use Jeph's temporary tattoo mustaches to quiet them. "If you're quiet, you get mustache tattoos!" DON'T GIVE THEM TO THEM IF THEY'RE NOT QUIET.)
2. You really do know how to count rhythms, sometimes when you're in front of students you freeze up when you get distracted by their chattiness. Breath and go through your bag of tricks:
• "Clark please come to the board and write out how to count the rhythm below."
• "Gwen, will you and Addie clap the rhythm?" "Max was that correct?"
3. When they talk, remind them of the prize at the end. Remind them to be respectful.

The third hour you were there, you observed Mr. Morris teach while you memorized names. Read on:

1. Repeat their names often in conversation. They appreciate you trying to learn their names.
2. Maybe try moving them around so they're not so chatty...

Love,

Shannalee

Blog 4: Recruiting Beginners!

Dear Shannalee,

So you're beginning a band eh? Well, have I got the blog for you! This entry will be all about how to recruit new band members effectively. So without further ado...let us begin.

First of all, you should write some goals that you'd like them to accomplish in their first year of band. Here are some that I would like to see get done (and you probably will too...):

1. They should be able to put together their instruments in a way that does not bring harm to them.
2. They should listen when I am on the podium. (Therefore I will need to give them times when they can talk.)
3. They should hand in practice notes from parents.
4. Treat fellow classmates with respect and work as a team to produce a wonderful sound.

INSTRUMENTAL PETTING ZOO:The next thing you'll want to do is get kids (and their parents) excited about finding an instrument and being a part of a real live band! With disinfectant spray in hand and mouthpiece in another, set up an Instrumental Petting Zoo for them. Once they have gone through all the instruments, ask what their top 2 choices would be for an instrument and write this next to their name. As they leave the Zoo, hand them a brightly colored slip telling their parents about the parent meeting. Add in how they can contact you if they can't make this meeting.

THE PARENT MEETING: Be sure to have punch and cookies to butter them up a little. Have a colorful and inspiring Power Point Presentation (Storms in Africa by Enya would be a good choice here) for them to watch as you tell them how excited you about this new and important experience in their childs' life. The Presentation should include:

1. Info about each instrument.
2. Recommendations as far as where to buy it.
3. When to have their decision by.

I am confident that if you are well organized and prepare well, you will help them to understand the importance of this program and have a very nicely balanced band (hopefully not too many saxophonists...). Remember that you can use some tactics to guide them to another instrument if there are too many of one kind. "You have a good ear! You would be an excellent French Horn player!"

Love,

Shannalee

Blog 3: Let's talk about the Resource Notebook!

Dear Shannalee,

This Resource Notebook you hold in your hands is important! Here is why:

1. "The purpose of a RN is to create a single source of the most pertinent information from this semester, and put it into usable form for you as a beginning teacher."
2. "This is why your blogs are written to your future self and focus on the main points of the semester
3. "Organization and neatness are assessed with the assumption that you will use this resource at some point early in your career."

This notebook is extremely important to me. With it, I shall remember ideas that I have and keep topics discussed in class all in one place. Have fun looking through these pages!

Your friend,

Shannalee

Blog 2: My Core Values

Dear Shannalee,

As our class had a discussion on Core Values and Dr. Stark showed the powerpoint, I was thinking of the times when I'll need to remember what they are. I will need to remember my core values when it is really windy outside and my seventh graders let me know in many different ways that they do not like the song that they are singing. I will need to remember my core values when administrators tell me that they are thinking of making music class an "after school activity" instead of in the actual curriculum. Here are some things I need to remember and have right on my desk:

1. I have always had a love of children and love to work with them and teach them.
2. Every child has a right to learn.
3. Everyone has an aptitude in music. EVERYONE!
4. Music is worthy of curricular study on its own merit.
5. The classroom is a place of safety and freedom of expression. It is a place where children can discover and learn without fear.
6. Music is one of man's greatest accomplishments~it cannot lie.

Have a good day Shannalee!

Love,

Shannalee

Blog 1: Hello Future Me

Dear Future Me,

This is now an official post entitled "Blog 1: 'Hello Future Me'". If you are reading this, chances are the Zombie Apocalypse has not occurred yet and you have just accepted your first position as a music educator to a lucky school. Congratulations! What's that? Part of your duties will be to teach instrumental music? Don't sweat. There are entries after this one that will remind you of different topics you have learned in Instrumental Methods (Spring semester of 2012) and different ideas you had yourself. But for now, allow me to help you remember why you chose this field of study.

Remember your first recital with mom teaching and you sang "My Favorite Things" with a group of girls? Mom made a chart of the lyrics with pictures on it for those who couldn't read yet. Then there was one of the times you performed all by yourself and sang "The Melody Within" from Rigoletto with Mom accompanying at the Nursing Home. You were nervous but it was so fun and exciting performing in front of others.

You knew at an early age that music was an extremely important part of your life. It brings you so much joy and you've seen how it's touched other lives as well. Like when you worked in the Nursing Home and it made the residents so happy to hear you sing some of their favorite songs while cleaning the tables.

This is why it was so upsetting to see it not appreciated in the school setting. It brings you so much joy, so why were there some who were not as enthused? Eventually you decided that maybe you'd like to become a Music Educator and help shape the minds of future adults. You started to write down ideas from workshops you went to and some of your own ideas.

Now here I am. 2012 and I'm a junior at MSU pursuing a degree in the Education of Musicianship for grades K-12. It's all because I am passionate about music being available for all students. Not just available, but making the program so that students really want to be there and actively seek out opportunities to perform and better their instruments.

Now then future me, since you most likely have a couple of days (or hopefully weeks) to prepare yourself for the teaching of this instrumental class, you should do some things:

• Find all the phone numbers of your instrumental professors (especially Dr. Stark because he knows his stuff).
• Make sure you know exactly where the sections should go.
• Dig out all your Instrumental Technique notebooks so that they are in your office ready to be consulted.
• Decide on repertoire.
• What songs do you want them to work on?
• Get out your calendar, when are all of the concerts going to be?

THEN, you can read more of these blogs!

Sincerely yours,

Shannalee (Me)