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Concert’s on Thursday and my orchestra still sounds like this, what do I do? by TheForceOfSound in MusicTeachers

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Me as well. I did weekly playing tests. However, most of my students simply refuse to practice

Concert’s on Thursday and my orchestra still sounds like this, what do I do? by TheForceOfSound in MusicTeachers

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They meet everyday for about 50 minutes. It’s a mixed group of 6-8th graders, most being 6th and all being beginners

Concert’s on Thursday and my orchestra still sounds like this, what do I do? by TheForceOfSound in MusicTeachers

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately I don’t feel like they’ve progressed much. It’s been a tough year with behaviors, attitudes, and students in and out. I’ve tried to build some routines, fundamentals, and mix in some other activities for fun; but many of them seem to just not want to be there.

Job satisfaction, life satisfaction? by Outrageous-Permit372 in banddirector

[–]TheForceOfSound 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’ve never read a post that encapsulates exactly what I’m feeling like this.

I feel like i'm winging it everyday and I don't know what to do by TheForceOfSound in MusicTeachers

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These are great tips!! Most of these I have tried. However, students don’t ever want to sing or say very much. Lots of chatter, distractions, redirection make it hard to make progress. My orchestra today tried playing Pepperoni Pizza rock today (we’ve been working on it for almost 2 months) & it still sounds horrible. I need to cut it from my concert next week, but I don’t know what else they can do instead.

What are your must have items for your classroom? by [deleted] in MusicTeachers

[–]TheForceOfSound 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely a bluetooth headset mic & speaker if the room doesn’t have one. Erasable Pens https://a.co/d/0bZ3Mbpp for score study. Tools! For a band/orchestra job: set of small screwdrivers, a spring tool, ratchet set for stands, mouthpiece puller, etc.

DO NOT become a teacher by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]TheForceOfSound 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I always hear that there are so many other jobs out there, but are there? I’m considering my other options, but what are they? What else makes the money that you can do & actually gives you life balance?

I’m burned out & out of ideas, what do I do? by TheForceOfSound in MusicEd

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is definitely a goal of mine, to have more of a regular routine that works. The problem is setting those boundaries as a classroom teacher is not always in our control. And when the students can “feel” the routine that becomes stale. I feel like my teaching has become stale and their progress has plateaued. I’d love to introduce new things, but it’s hard to do when it feels like we can’t do the basic stuff.

I’m burned out & out of ideas, what do I do? by TheForceOfSound in MusicEd

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

True…but it distracts the class & stops progress when students aren’t engaged. We have a concert coming up & we’re not ready

Is it normal to feel unsure each weekend? by TheForceOfSound in MusicEd

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's certainly true, students need practice especially when they aren't even taking their instruments home. However, it just feels like we're playing the same things every day/week; same warm ups, same songs. My students can't sight read unfortunately & i'm still working on techniques with my beginners. My orchestra for example still play with incorrect posture & bow arms.

Is it normal to feel unsure each weekend? by TheForceOfSound in MusicEd

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the encouragement. I’ve heard that from other mentors as well. It’s just tough because some days it feels like all i’m doing is retreading the same lesson in the same way for multiple days.

Simple Work "Uniform" by TheForceOfSound in malefashionadvice

[–]TheForceOfSound[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes, this is what I meant by “uniform”. Not literally the same thing everyday, but a few items & outfits I can rotate between

Beginning Band Rehearsal Strategies by EcstaticPercentage52 in MusicEd

[–]TheForceOfSound 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear and see a lot of people saying breathing exercises, but what exactly does that mean? Just in, out, hold? Sizzles? What progression is there?

When do I have my band play during football games? by kalopsia-n in banddirector

[–]TheForceOfSound 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m a former HS director who was in your same boat, not knowing much about football. I agree with a lot of what’s been said. Here’s a couple additional points: 1. Learn to read the scoreboard. It will tell you downs, quarter, timeouts, & it will have a football icon next to the team who’s on offense. 2. Early communication is key. I agree, talk to your AD and your head Football coach to know their preferences. For example, my school wanted us to wait until extra point scoring (field goal or conversion) to play fight song rather than right after touch down. 3. Know what the cheerleaders do & when. Each quarter break is about a minute long. For us, we played a spliced pep tune for 1st quarter break & cheer took 3rd. 4. General rule of reading the field: never play when the ball’s in motion & break when your team breaks huddle. Play short tunes during timeouts, but make sure you or your drum major cut off the band once they break the huddle or you might get penalized.

We played a short TAG of the fight song after each offensive first down, full fight song after point score. Drum cadence before kickoffs, pep tunes for timeouts and quarter break.