Hey future me,
It is important that you have your students actively listening to tone early. They must be able to tell if they are playing with good tone AS WELL AS if they are blending with other instruments. Woodwinds must be able to blend together. Brass must blend together. And these two sections must have blend with each other. Have students take turns listening to various sections for tone and have them describe the tone in 5 words or less. Then try and have them match that tone. Get your students listening early and often! It will save you some trouble later on.
Characteristic tone is incredibly important for any ensemble. As a
person, you have your personality to set you apart from everyone else,
and this is what tone does for your ensemble. You want people to be
able to hear recordings and say, "Oh that must be MSU!". Tone is also
very important because it is what makes a piece pleasant to listen to.
You could play one of the greatest pieces ever written, but without good
tone, it would be a disaster. Encourage your students to listen to recordings of the pieces you are playing that has musicians who play with good tone. It helps to hear an example!
Best wishes,
Sallie
Thursday, April 26, 2012
F.E. Blog 12
5th Grade Band
God bless this teacher. It takes a very special person to teach elementary band. I had a headache within 5 minutes of being in the room and this teacher does it every day. I again found myself in a school that did not have a band room. We were in a regular classroom, which meant it was small. And there were a lot of loud instruments. The first thing that caught my eye was the two girls playing the oboe. I had no idea that a 5th grader could play oboe! It is a very difficult instrument and the students must have good ears and patience.
The percussion section was having some listening issues this day.... or who knows, it could be most days. Three boys played percussion, and they played as loud as they wanted, whenever they wanted. Somehow the teacher was able to ignore this. She addressed the loudness issue once, and then never said anything again. I have no idea how she put up with it. I'm not sure if she didn't stop and talk to them because of time or because she just wasn't sure how to improve the situation. It is easy to sit in the back of the room and speculate what you would do in the situation, but I have no idea what it would really be like to have her job. At this point in time, I do not know if I have the patience or energy to keep up with an elementary band. In a lot of ways, it seems like a bigger job than high school band!
God bless this teacher. It takes a very special person to teach elementary band. I had a headache within 5 minutes of being in the room and this teacher does it every day. I again found myself in a school that did not have a band room. We were in a regular classroom, which meant it was small. And there were a lot of loud instruments. The first thing that caught my eye was the two girls playing the oboe. I had no idea that a 5th grader could play oboe! It is a very difficult instrument and the students must have good ears and patience.
The percussion section was having some listening issues this day.... or who knows, it could be most days. Three boys played percussion, and they played as loud as they wanted, whenever they wanted. Somehow the teacher was able to ignore this. She addressed the loudness issue once, and then never said anything again. I have no idea how she put up with it. I'm not sure if she didn't stop and talk to them because of time or because she just wasn't sure how to improve the situation. It is easy to sit in the back of the room and speculate what you would do in the situation, but I have no idea what it would really be like to have her job. At this point in time, I do not know if I have the patience or energy to keep up with an elementary band. In a lot of ways, it seems like a bigger job than high school band!
F.E. Blog 11
5th Grade Orchestra
I had no idea what to expect from a 5th grade orchestra. I am impressed that any 5th grader can play a stringed instrument, let alone in an orchestral setting. It made me a little sad to see that the students had to rehearse in the lunch room. As a music teacher, I would have loved to see them have their own room with instrument lockers and everything they could ever need. I found myself in a very real situation: not all music teachers have their own classrooms. However, the teacher did a great job with the space and it did not seem to bother the students.
The students were preparing for an orchestra concert with other area elementary schools. They had recently started the music, but seemed to be really catching on. The teacher taught them the conducting pattern and had them conduct themselves. I thought this was so cool. There is no way I would have known a 3 or 4 conducting pattern in elementary school. These students also had excellent intonation. I noticed them adjusting their fingering without having to be asked. The teacher really did not have to tell them fingerings. She sang to them (even though I know for a fact she is an excellent cellist) and it worked very well. I realized that I could totally teach an elementary orchestra. I have the basic string knowledge, I am patient, and I have a good ear. These are the attributes that this teacher demonstrated, and it seemed to work great for her orchestra.
I had no idea what to expect from a 5th grade orchestra. I am impressed that any 5th grader can play a stringed instrument, let alone in an orchestral setting. It made me a little sad to see that the students had to rehearse in the lunch room. As a music teacher, I would have loved to see them have their own room with instrument lockers and everything they could ever need. I found myself in a very real situation: not all music teachers have their own classrooms. However, the teacher did a great job with the space and it did not seem to bother the students.
The students were preparing for an orchestra concert with other area elementary schools. They had recently started the music, but seemed to be really catching on. The teacher taught them the conducting pattern and had them conduct themselves. I thought this was so cool. There is no way I would have known a 3 or 4 conducting pattern in elementary school. These students also had excellent intonation. I noticed them adjusting their fingering without having to be asked. The teacher really did not have to tell them fingerings. She sang to them (even though I know for a fact she is an excellent cellist) and it worked very well. I realized that I could totally teach an elementary orchestra. I have the basic string knowledge, I am patient, and I have a good ear. These are the attributes that this teacher demonstrated, and it seemed to work great for her orchestra.
F.E. Blog 10
BHS Jazz Band
I am honestly not sure if teaching concert band would be the right fit for me. However, if the situation did arise that I needed to teach a band, I would hope it would be jazz band. I think it is so great that BHS has a jazz band. I hope that wherever I teach in the future has one. You learn an entirely new set of skills, while still reinforcing the ones you use in other ensembles. What really struck me about this rehearsal was Mr. Burdahls warm-up. EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IMPROVISED! This blew me away. I do not think that band members in my high school could have done this and these students did it effortlessly.
Mr. Burdahl established this warm-up in such a way that each student played the whole time, mostly comping, and also got a chance to solo. With this band being at 7:30 am, I was interested to see how quickly the students' brains would wake up to the improvisation. There are some very talented young musicians in this band. This did not seem like school for them. They all honestly seemed to be enjoying themselves. At the end of this observation, I was given the opportunity to start the jazz band. It was SO much fun. I would love to conduct a jazz band for a concert. I love performing and listening to jazz music, and conducting it is unlike anything else I have done before. It is almost like dancing. For Professor M. at MSU... it is dancing! And I love it.
I am honestly not sure if teaching concert band would be the right fit for me. However, if the situation did arise that I needed to teach a band, I would hope it would be jazz band. I think it is so great that BHS has a jazz band. I hope that wherever I teach in the future has one. You learn an entirely new set of skills, while still reinforcing the ones you use in other ensembles. What really struck me about this rehearsal was Mr. Burdahls warm-up. EVERY SINGLE STUDENT IMPROVISED! This blew me away. I do not think that band members in my high school could have done this and these students did it effortlessly.
Mr. Burdahl established this warm-up in such a way that each student played the whole time, mostly comping, and also got a chance to solo. With this band being at 7:30 am, I was interested to see how quickly the students' brains would wake up to the improvisation. There are some very talented young musicians in this band. This did not seem like school for them. They all honestly seemed to be enjoying themselves. At the end of this observation, I was given the opportunity to start the jazz band. It was SO much fun. I would love to conduct a jazz band for a concert. I love performing and listening to jazz music, and conducting it is unlike anything else I have done before. It is almost like dancing. For Professor M. at MSU... it is dancing! And I love it.
F.E. Blog 9
BHS Band
I was excited to finally see Kelly Burdahl in action. I don't think one can be involved in music in Bozeman and not know of him. He has a reputation for being a little... gruff. I was interested to see this for myself, since I have found that usually when teachers are described as "tough" they really just have high expectations and run their classroom efficiently. I felt bad for Mr. Burdahl this day because his percussionists just did not have it together. For someone who supposedly 'erupts' in class, I thought he kept fairly calm for the situation at hand. The students did not have the right instruments or the right music, and even after he asked them to figure it out, were still sitting in the back with confused looks on their faces. I can imagine that it would be very frustrating and embarrassing to have people observe your band on a day when your students are having an off day. I am sure his rehearsals usually run with the utmost efficiency, as that is his reputation.
I really appreciated how much time he spent on tuning the band. Intonation is incredibly important as a foundation for everything we do in a music class. He had a tuner in hand and spent time going through every section to make sure everyone was in tune. He had students listen to each other and help tune instead of relying entirely on the tuner. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would, because the students were used to this routine. I think this will benefit these students immensely in the long run!
I was excited to finally see Kelly Burdahl in action. I don't think one can be involved in music in Bozeman and not know of him. He has a reputation for being a little... gruff. I was interested to see this for myself, since I have found that usually when teachers are described as "tough" they really just have high expectations and run their classroom efficiently. I felt bad for Mr. Burdahl this day because his percussionists just did not have it together. For someone who supposedly 'erupts' in class, I thought he kept fairly calm for the situation at hand. The students did not have the right instruments or the right music, and even after he asked them to figure it out, were still sitting in the back with confused looks on their faces. I can imagine that it would be very frustrating and embarrassing to have people observe your band on a day when your students are having an off day. I am sure his rehearsals usually run with the utmost efficiency, as that is his reputation.
I really appreciated how much time he spent on tuning the band. Intonation is incredibly important as a foundation for everything we do in a music class. He had a tuner in hand and spent time going through every section to make sure everyone was in tune. He had students listen to each other and help tune instead of relying entirely on the tuner. It didn't take nearly as long as I thought it would, because the students were used to this routine. I think this will benefit these students immensely in the long run!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
F.E. Blog 8
BHS Warm-ups
I cannot describe how nervous I was for this day. This is for several reasons: 1) 7:30 am + high schoolers = grumpy students. 2) Michael Certalic intimidates me. Not because he is mean, but because he is really good at what he does and I don't want to embarrass myself. 3) I do not play a single instrument in the orchestra... unless you count piano or percussion, neither of which are in this ensemble.
The first thing I noticed as the students got set up was that some woodwind instruments had mysteriously appeared this class period. It was only strings when I observed the time before and no one had mentioned anything about woodwinds. I based my warm-ups only around strings, so I had a moment of panic when I saw the w.w. I knew my warm ups were good, so I picked my chin up and told myself I would do great. The students were a little slow to pick up on a few of the exercises I had planned, and I think this is a combination of it being so early, me not being their 'real' teacher, and I could have explained a few things a little clearer. I found that by singing to them, I accomplished the same thing that Mr. Certalic did by playing for them. They just need to hear the exercise clearly and with good intonation. Funny how I keep writing that exact sentence in all of my blogs... I think I see a pattern emerging.
I cannot describe how nervous I was for this day. This is for several reasons: 1) 7:30 am + high schoolers = grumpy students. 2) Michael Certalic intimidates me. Not because he is mean, but because he is really good at what he does and I don't want to embarrass myself. 3) I do not play a single instrument in the orchestra... unless you count piano or percussion, neither of which are in this ensemble.
The first thing I noticed as the students got set up was that some woodwind instruments had mysteriously appeared this class period. It was only strings when I observed the time before and no one had mentioned anything about woodwinds. I based my warm-ups only around strings, so I had a moment of panic when I saw the w.w. I knew my warm ups were good, so I picked my chin up and told myself I would do great. The students were a little slow to pick up on a few of the exercises I had planned, and I think this is a combination of it being so early, me not being their 'real' teacher, and I could have explained a few things a little clearer. I found that by singing to them, I accomplished the same thing that Mr. Certalic did by playing for them. They just need to hear the exercise clearly and with good intonation. Funny how I keep writing that exact sentence in all of my blogs... I think I see a pattern emerging.
F.E. Blog 7
BHS Primary #1
I am in awe of Michael Certalic. I arrived at BHS at 7:15 am and he was in the middle of teaching a violin lesson. Why on earth would he teach that early? More importantly- what student wants to play that early?? The answer to both- they love music. I was pretty skeptical about having an orchestra at 7:30 am. I know that in high school, and even now, I am not particularly alert before 8:00 am or so. I am not sure how excited I would be to sit in a room full of instruments playing fff that early in the morning. But somehow, Mr. Certalic and all of his students arrive on time and in good spirits.
Mr. Certalic spent the entire period showing us different warm ups that the ensemble does on a regular basis. I was very impressed by the quality of these young musicians. They played scales, etudes, folk tunes, you name it... just as warm ups! The best part of all of this is that they really seemed to enjoy it. I feel very nervous about warming up this ensemble. I do not play a stringed instrument. At all. And Mr. Certalic plays all of the warm ups in a call-and-response style. Getting up in front of a high school-age ensemble is quite a bit more intimidating than elementary-age students. I feel slightly too close in age to these students!
I am in awe of Michael Certalic. I arrived at BHS at 7:15 am and he was in the middle of teaching a violin lesson. Why on earth would he teach that early? More importantly- what student wants to play that early?? The answer to both- they love music. I was pretty skeptical about having an orchestra at 7:30 am. I know that in high school, and even now, I am not particularly alert before 8:00 am or so. I am not sure how excited I would be to sit in a room full of instruments playing fff that early in the morning. But somehow, Mr. Certalic and all of his students arrive on time and in good spirits.
Mr. Certalic spent the entire period showing us different warm ups that the ensemble does on a regular basis. I was very impressed by the quality of these young musicians. They played scales, etudes, folk tunes, you name it... just as warm ups! The best part of all of this is that they really seemed to enjoy it. I feel very nervous about warming up this ensemble. I do not play a stringed instrument. At all. And Mr. Certalic plays all of the warm ups in a call-and-response style. Getting up in front of a high school-age ensemble is quite a bit more intimidating than elementary-age students. I feel slightly too close in age to these students!
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