Student Teaching Day 10

My Day

Today I observed the orchestra, I conducted and taught a piece with the Concert Band and was observed by my supervisor, I set in and played my clarinet and bass clarinet with the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and helped out with the Beginning Guitar class. 

Instrument techniques

General Instruction

Orchestra

            -Know vocabulary! Example: Detacha, Martole (spelling?)

-During the rehearsal of a piece, stop and give a pitch center to the string players so they have a reference point and aren’t just guessing

-The students are asked to write their warm-ups on a piece of staff paper, rather than looking off a book.  This way they actually learn what they are writing out and understand how it is formed.  This can be varied with different scales, rhythms, and meter.

-Have the students play after the metronome is turned on and clicks 4 or 8 times, rather then the director having to count every time.  This is precise (sound). 

-When teaching scales in thirds, isolate the turn around

-Break down 6/8 time all the way to sixteenth notes so the students understand.

Band

-Today during my band rehearsal I tried to focus on controlling my conducting more, digging into some of the brass sections, and stepping off the podium so that I could rely on my ears more than my eyes. 

-Don’t use hard vocalizes for concert band, (no dit, use dah, but short instead)

Quotes and Other Random Happenings

            -Thought this was funny...