Weekly Blog #2

One practice that I will be adopting in my classroom is the use of recording devices. This is also a great use of technology enhancing education. My cooperating teacher records the different classes doing run-throughs. Usually a couple of days later the recording is played back to the students so they can hear the entire group and provide feedback of their listening. Doing these kinds of activities will enlighten them to the fact that listening is a very important part of music.

Another activity that my cooperating teacher uses to develop listening skills is during warm-up. The 7th grade band has a "5 note warm-up." The warm-ups begins going up the first 5 notes in the chosen scale, then coming back down. Most of the time the young students just go through the motions but today the teacher gave them a task to focus on while doing the warm-up. My cooperating teacher would choose a section of the band, have them play the 5 note warm-up, then direct the entire band to "fit into that section's sound." It went something like this: everyone played the warm-up, the clarinet section would play alone, and then everyone came in but this time trying to blend and balance with the clarinet section. This pattern repeated for each section (flute, bassoon, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone.) Each time the band blended with a different section the whole sound of the group would change. Most importantly, they got quieter in their playing volume so they could actually hear, listen, and adjust.

The highlight of my week was percussion class. My cooperating teacher is not a percussionist and neither am I. But, during this specific class a local drum shop owner and teacher came to offer his wisdom. I learn so much about percussion, and music in general, from him.

On a side-note, I would just like to say that the atmosphere of the class changed a lot when he was up in front of them. The guest took charge, and was confident and knowledgeable.

The most inspirational part of the day was when I saw him walk back to two boys at the back of the class. These two students were plopped in percussion class by the office; they didn't choose to be there. They rarely participate, show up late, and have bad attitudes and sour faces. At the end of the class when all of the students were packing up, the guest percussionist went up to the two boys and began talking with them. I couldn't hear anything that was being said, but could tell that the students were interested and amused by what was being said. This was obvious by the change is facial expression; previously angry and cold, they were now bright and innocent. After class the guest told me and my cooperating teacher what he was saying to the boys. He said he outright asked them, "Why are you here?" They told him it was because they had to be. The guest replied that there was nothing wrong with that, then proceeded to tell them that the best drummers are usually the ones at the back of the class. This simple conversation with those two kids, getting to know them, and providing a little bit of hope for success, changed their attitude of the class.