Student Teaching Day 16

My Day

I began my day with helping to organize jazz band audition material.  I then observed, played with, and directed the jazz bands.  After that I played with the Wind Ensemble and directed “An American Elegy” which went really well.  I feel like I was more prepared than I have been and I got a lot of quality teaching and learning done.  I have noticed that it’s really important for the director's playing ability to be good so that stuff can be demonstrated.  I will definitely keep playing my instruments, but now I am even more motivated to keep my technique up.  These bands I’m observing are great in part because the directors can whip out their horn at any moment and demonstrate exactly what they want.  

Instrument techniques

Brass

                  -A plunger makes the pitch flat

General Instruction

Jazz

-Scales! Same scale pattern as concert band but swing.  Play around the circle of 4ths/5ths, major and then mixolydian

-Demonstrate lead players listening back.  Lead sax listens back to lead trumpet players, everyone listens like this. 

-Listen to cymbal for time

-Put metronome by the director in front where the drummer can see it, director changes tempos but keeps metronome silent.

-Ask drummer to give back beat while sections are playing.

-Book: “Swing Classics for Jazz Ensemble” Published by Hal Leonard

-Trumpets and others need to add vibrato

Quotes and Other Random Happenings

Analogies!

            -Dropping your jaw is like whistling low.