Today, in my classes, we will be playing music and sending love, as we always do. But today, we will be directing our love to the families and victims in Orlando. I urge you today to do what you can in your own lives to send love, to show your support to those who need it, and to fill the world with music, love, and pride.
Tag: ASTA
The Power of Even a Drop of Critical Pedagogy
Ever since learning about Critical Pedagogy, I have done everything I could do put it into practice. Let me tell you… The results have been out of this world…
My Best Concert Ever!!! A Positive Shift in Culture
And it’s not really that we have perfected all of the notes and rhythms… Because there are definitely still some rough passages… But, there has been a culture shift in my program and it is really coming to light as we prepare for our concert.
Hall Duty Horrors: Take a New Spin on Hall Duty and Improve Your Program!
Bellies and buttcracks and wayyyyy too much skin pouring over jeans…. I had NO idea…. Now I do… Now I realize why my students think it’s ridiculous when I ask them to wear longer shorts… I understand that cursing is the norm rather than the exception within my school… And that my students are kind of angelic in comparison! This gives me so much insight into what my own students deal with every day and how drastically things have changed
My Best Year Yet (fingers crossed)!
They listened to me! All of these years, they have been listening and are communicating a story without my help. It was perhaps the most beautiful thing I have experienced as an educator.
Three Enrollment Issues & How to Deal with Them
With school starting, we should already be thinking about how we can keep our students interested in our program & these are a few small ways to do it. Isn’t it interesting that very little of it has anything to do with music making? When it comes to music making, just keep it enjoyable!
LIFT OFF! Stats and Tips to Starting your New String Program!
thinking about starting up a new strings program in your district?…. 90% of the participants reported an increase in the overall enrollment in music programs within their district once a new strings program started
The Honor of Honors Orchestras (or Lack Thereof…)
He would definitely have a private teacher if his parents would let him, but they can’t afford it. So he watches every youtube video he can find of the audition excerpt. If he made it, he might be the first kid in his entire school to make this orchestra. Just a few minutes ago, he was sitting on a metrobus. Watching the minutes on his phone go by as slow as snail mail….
No More Nagging!
if issues have not been resolved by the time I get them, it can be incredibly frustrating for both myself and the student if I am constantly nagging them about their issues. Here are a few things that have helped me in the past
5 Surefire Ways to Save Rehearsal Time
students are in music classes to make music, not to listen to your life story (well, sometimes they are way too interested in your life story…), but in general, they want to play more. So make way for more music!