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.