Teaching More Than The Notes And Rhythm
A performance is often the major driving force behind our teaching as music educators. It is in a sense the final assessment. Certainly, students learning the music for an upcoming performance is top priority. No doubt, the music must be…
The Benefits of a Student Led Chamber Ensemble Experience
Each year in our district we are fortunate to host an annual solo and ensemble festival sponsored by the American String Teachers Association (A.S.T.A). Grades six through twelve participate in the festival on two separate days. One for students in…
Beginning Improvisation for Orchestra
The goal of the National Standards for Music Education, as outlined by NAfME, is to “cultivate a students ability to carry out the three Artistic Processes of creating, performing, and responding.” At the beginning level of the “Creating” standard, students…
Composition in the Orchestra Classroom
I really enjoy incorporating student composition projects into my orchestra classroom for a number of reasons. Composition demonstrates mastery. If a student can create using a concept studied in class, they are demonstrating a higher level of thinking and application…
Assessment Ideas for the Instrumental Classroom
As we discussed in an earlier post, assessment is very helpful and informative and should help to guide our teaching. Assessment of our students can help us as educators determine students strengths and weaknesses and can hopefully lead us to…
Assessment in the Orchestra Classroom
I would venture to say that all teachers assess their students in some way or another. As music educators, I feel as if assessment comes hand in hand with what we do. We teach students a concept, skill, scale, fingering,…
Youth Orchestras and Ensemble Opportunities in New Jersey and Philadelphia
Below is a compiled list of youth orchestras, honors orchestras, jazz ensembles, and further playing opportunities for young bassists and string players in the New Jersey and Philadelphia metro area. Please let me know of any opportunities and ensembles I…
For Families: How to Support Your Child in Their Music Education
Music is a complex area of study. The language of music – notation, symbols, and so on – can be challenging to learn. The technical aspects of playing an instrument and the development of one’s ear are all life time…