Student Teaching Day 19

My Day

Today I observed with a different music program in the district.  I had a lot of fun and it's always good to see as many teaching styles as possible so I can learn from them all.  I observed a music theory class, concert band, jazz band, and a musical pit rehearsal.  This band is playing a piece I am conducting, "An American Elegy," so it was really cool to see a different interpretation of the composition. 

General Instruction

 Music Theory

It was really great seeing a high school music theory class taught.  I learned this crazy, amazing way to teach students how to figure out how to build a major chord.  They use the following chart:

 

For chords built on any version (# or b) of G, C, and F the student remember “same.”  They lay down the first note and the two notes they stack on top have the same accidental.  For example, build a major triad on F = F A C or Gb = Gb Bb Dd.  The next group is the “oreo” chords. For chords built on any version (# or b) of E, A, and D the student remember “oreo.”  They lay down the first note and the top note has the same accidental as the bottom so the middle is always raised because the “cream filling is the good part, (raised for yummy-ness) part of the oreo.  For example: E = E G# B. For chords built on any version (# or b) of B the student remember “Pam.” (Such as Pamela Anderson).  They lay down the first note and the top to notes are raised just like something towards the top is raised on Pam Anderson (use your imagination.)  I’m sure another example can be used but these seemed to work great with the students!   If anyone would like me to explain this in more detail just let me know!

Band

-When students are out of tune ask them and yourself whether it is the tone, volume, or pitch.

            -Quick pencil checks are great.

-I really liked the piece “Bayou Breakdown” by Brant Karrick that the band played.